CVE-2025-23280: NVIDIA Linux Driver Use-After-Free Flaw

CVE-2025-23280 Overview

CVE-2025-23280 is a use-after-free vulnerability [CWE-416] in the NVIDIA Display Driver for Linux. An authenticated local attacker can trigger the flaw to reference memory after it has been freed. Successful exploitation may lead to code execution, privilege escalation, data tampering, denial of service, and information disclosure.

The vulnerability requires local access and low privileges but has high attack complexity, making reliable exploitation non-trivial. NVIDIA published guidance in its security bulletin covering affected driver branches on Linux systems.

Critical Impact
Successful exploitation grants an attacker the ability to execute code with kernel-level trust, escalate privileges, and disclose sensitive memory contents on affected Linux hosts running the NVIDIA Display Driver.

Affected Products

NVIDIA Display Driver for Linux (see NVIDIA Support Advisory for specific affected branches)
Linux workstations and servers using NVIDIA GPU drivers
Systems with authenticated local users capable of interacting with the NVIDIA driver interface

Discovery Timeline

2025-10-10 - CVE-2025-23280 published to the National Vulnerability Database
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-23280

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is a use-after-free condition [CWE-416] in the NVIDIA Display Driver for Linux. Use-after-free flaws occur when a program continues to use a pointer to memory that has already been freed. The freed memory can be reallocated for a different purpose, and subsequent operations on the stale pointer corrupt kernel state or allow controlled data to be interpreted as trusted structures.

Because the flaw exists in a kernel-mode display driver, exploitation directly affects the kernel address space. An attacker with a local user session can invoke driver interfaces (typically via ioctl calls against /dev/nvidia* device nodes) to trigger the freed-object condition. Consequences span the CIA triad: code execution in kernel context, privilege escalation to root, tampering with kernel memory, denial of service through kernel panic, and disclosure of adjacent memory contents.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper lifecycle management of a kernel object within the NVIDIA display driver. A reference to the object persists after its backing memory is released, allowing subsequent driver operations to dereference a dangling pointer. NVIDIA has not publicly disclosed the specific driver subsystem or object type involved.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires local access with low privileges. The attacker executes crafted sequences of driver operations from a user-mode process to cause the freed-object condition, then races or grooms the kernel allocator to place attacker-controlled data into the reclaimed slot. High attack complexity reflects the need for precise timing and heap layout control. No user interaction is required, and the scope remains unchanged (kernel of the local system).

Refer to the NVIDIA Support Advisory for vendor-provided technical context.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-23280

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected kernel oops or panic messages in dmesg or /var/log/kern.log referencing nvidia kernel modules
Local processes issuing unusual sequences of ioctl calls against /dev/nvidia0, /dev/nvidiactl, or /dev/nvidia-uvm
New root-owned processes or privilege transitions spawned from previously unprivileged user sessions
GPU driver crashes correlated with subsequent suspicious process activity

Detection Strategies

Monitor kernel logs for NVIDIA driver faults, use-after-free signatures, and KASAN or slab corruption reports where enabled
Alert on non-graphical or non-compute user processes making high volumes of ioctl calls against NVIDIA device nodes
Correlate driver crash events with subsequent privilege escalation activity on the same host
Track loaded kernel module versions across the fleet to identify hosts still running unpatched NVIDIA driver branches

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable auditd rules covering access to /dev/nvidia* device nodes by unexpected UIDs
Forward kernel and audit logs to a centralized analytics platform for cross-host correlation
Baseline normal GPU driver behavior for workloads such as CUDA compute and graphical sessions, then alert on deviation
Maintain an inventory of NVIDIA driver versions and flag hosts running versions predating NVIDIA's fix

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-23280

Immediate Actions Required

Apply the fixed NVIDIA Display Driver for Linux release identified in the NVIDIA Support Advisory
Inventory all Linux systems running NVIDIA drivers and prioritize multi-user hosts, shared workstations, and GPU compute nodes
Restrict interactive local access to trusted users until patches are deployed
Review audit logs for prior anomalous access to NVIDIA device nodes

Patch Information

NVIDIA has published fixed driver versions in its security bulletin. Administrators should consult the NVIDIA Support Advisory to identify the specific driver branch and version applicable to their deployment, then apply the vendor-supplied package or installer. Reboot is typically required for kernel module replacement to take effect.

Workarounds

Limit local shell access on GPU-equipped systems to a minimal set of trusted administrators
Tighten permissions on /dev/nvidia* device nodes where operational requirements permit
Disable or unload the NVIDIA kernel module on hosts that do not require GPU functionality until patched
Enforce least-privilege on user accounts and remove unnecessary local access to shared GPU workstations

bash

# Verify current NVIDIA driver version on Linux
nvidia-smi --query-gpu=driver_version --format=csv,noheader

# List loaded NVIDIA kernel modules
lsmod | grep nvidia

# Audit access to NVIDIA device nodes
auditctl -w /dev/nvidiactl -p rwa -k nvidia_access
auditctl -w /dev/nvidia0   -p rwa -k nvidia_access
auditctl -w /dev/nvidia-uvm -p rwa -k nvidia_access