Buffer Overflow Vulnerability in NVIDIA CUDA Toolkit

CVE-2025-23247

What is CVE-2025-23247?

CVE-2025-23247 is a significant buffer overflow vulnerability found in the NVIDIA CUDA Toolkit, a software development platform that enables developers to leverage the parallel processing power of NVIDIA GPUs for various applications, particularly in high-performance computing and deep learning. This vulnerability specifically affects the cuobjdump binary within the toolkit, where inadequate length checks on input buffers can allow malicious actors to exploit the tool. By supplying a malformed ELF (Executable and Linkable Format) file, an attacker can induce a crash of the CUDA toolkit or, more critically, execute arbitrary code on the affected system. This risk is especially detrimental for organizations reliant on GPU acceleration for tasks like data analysis or machine learning, as it opens the gateway for potential system compromise and data manipulation.

Potential impact of CVE-2025-23247

1. Arbitrary Code Execution: The most severe impact of this vulnerability is the potential for arbitrary code execution. If successfully exploited, attackers can run their code on the target system, leading to unauthorized access and control over critical resources.

2. System Crashes: The vulnerability's nature allows for the crashing of the CUDA toolkit, which can disrupt ongoing processes and workflows, resulting in a loss of productivity and potential losses in revenue for organizations dependent on the tool.

3. Increased Risk of Data Breaches: With arbitrary code execution capabilities, attackers could exfiltrate sensitive data, manipulate programs that rely on NVIDIA GPUs, or install further malicious tools. This raises significant concerns about data integrity and confidentiality within vulnerable environments.

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