Introduction
CVE-2025-23278 is an improper index validation flaw in NVIDIA GPU Display Drivers. It exposes Windows and Linux systems to local attacks that can corrupt data or trigger denial of service, and in GPU-accelerated environments that kind of data tampering or outage can disrupt critical workflows.
NVIDIA dominates the GPU market, and its drivers run on millions of desktops, workstations, and servers worldwide. Gaming, scientific computing, AI, and enterprise workloads all depend on its software stack, so a vulnerability in its drivers has consequences well beyond any single system.
Technical information
CVE-2025-23278 is a high-severity vulnerability (CVSS 7.1) in the NVIDIA GPU Display Driver for both Windows and Linux. The root cause is improper validation of array indices (CWE-129) in driver code that processes user-supplied parameters. An attacker with local access and low privileges can craft calls to the driver that bypass the intended index checks, which gives out-of-bounds memory access within the driver's internal data structures.
The bug triggers when the driver uses unchecked or insufficiently validated indices derived from user input to access arrays or buffers. If an index falls outside the allocated memory region, the driver may overwrite or corrupt adjacent memory, which can result in data tampering or system instability. A local attacker can exploit the flaw programmatically, with no user interaction. Confidentiality is not affected, but integrity and availability are at high risk.
No public code snippets or detailed exploit code are available as of this writing. Both the Windows and Linux driver branches are affected in versions prior to the July 2025 security update.
Patch information
NVIDIA fixed CVE-2025-23278 in its July 2025 security update. The patch adds stricter input validation that keeps array indices within valid bounds, which prevents the out-of-bounds memory access.
Patched versions:
- 575.64.05 (current branch)
- 570.172.08 (previous generation)
- 535.261.03 (long-term support)
To remediate, download and install the latest NVIDIA GPU Display Driver from the official NVIDIA Driver Downloads page.
Detection methods
Detecting CVE-2025-23278 comes down to version verification and vulnerability scanning:
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Version verification: Check the installed NVIDIA GPU Display Driver version. Systems running versions older than 575.64.05, 570.172.08, or 535.261.03 are vulnerable.
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Vulnerability scanners: Tools like Nessus with Plugin ID 243282 detect vulnerable driver versions on Linux systems automatically, by comparing the installed driver version against a database of known vulnerabilities.
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System log monitoring: Review system logs for unexpected crashes or abnormal driver behavior that may indicate exploitation attempts.
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Intrusion detection systems (IDS): Configure your IDS to watch for patterns associated with exploitation of NVIDIA driver vulnerabilities.
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Patch management: Apply NVIDIA security updates regularly to keep exposure to a minimum.
For more details, see Nessus Plugin 243282.
Affected systems and versions
- NVIDIA GPU Display Driver for Windows and Linux
- Vulnerable versions: all releases prior to 575.64.05 (current), 570.172.08 (previous generation), and 535.261.03 (long-term support)
- Consumer, enterprise, and datacenter GPUs that use these driver branches
Vendor security history
NVIDIA has disclosed similar vulnerabilities in its GPU Display Drivers before, including memory management and input validation flaws. The July 2025 security update covers multiple CVEs (CVE-2025-23276 through CVE-2025-23288), a sign that complex driver code keeps producing security problems. The company typically ships timely patches across all supported driver branches and publishes transparent advisories for customers.
