CVE-2025-23358: NVIDIA NVApp Privilege Escalation Flaw

CVE-2025-23358 Overview

CVE-2025-23358 affects the NVIDIA NVApp installer for Windows. The vulnerability stems from an uncontrolled search path element [CWE-427] within the installer's execution flow. A local attacker with low privileges can plant a malicious binary or library along a search path that the installer trusts. When a user runs the installer, the planted component loads with the installer's privileges. Successful exploitation can lead to arbitrary code execution and escalation of privileges on the host. NVIDIA has published guidance in its security bulletin referenced from the NVIDIA Support Article.

Critical Impact
A local attacker can achieve code execution and privilege escalation by placing a malicious file in a directory searched by the NVApp installer.

Affected Products

NVIDIA NVApp for Windows (installer component)
Windows endpoints where NVApp is installed or updated
Systems where non-administrative users can write to any directory in the installer's search path

Discovery Timeline

2025-11-04 - CVE-2025-23358 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-23358

Vulnerability Analysis

The NVApp installer resolves helper binaries or dynamic libraries through a search path that includes locations writable by non-privileged users. Windows resolves unqualified module names by walking directories in a defined order. When an installer does not fully qualify the paths of the components it loads, an attacker-controlled directory earlier in the search order takes precedence. The installer then loads the attacker's file instead of the legitimate one. Because the installer typically runs with elevated privileges during setup, the loaded code inherits those privileges. The scope change captured by the CVSS vector reflects impact beyond the installer process itself, extending to the operating system.

Root Cause

The root cause is an uncontrolled search path element in the installer, classified as [CWE-427]. The installer references dependencies without pinning them to a trusted, fully qualified path. Windows loader semantics then permit resolution against directories that a local user can write to.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires local access and user interaction. The attacker stages a malicious DLL or executable with a name that the installer will resolve. The victim launches or is prompted to run the NVApp installer. The installer loads the malicious component from the attacker-controlled location. Code executes in the installer's security context, which is typically SYSTEM or an elevated user. The vulnerability does not require network access or prior administrative rights on the target.

No public proof-of-concept exploit code has been released. Refer to the NVD CVE-2025-23358 Details for the authoritative technical record.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-23358

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected DLL or executable files placed in directories along the NVApp installer's search path, particularly user-writable locations such as %TEMP%, %APPDATA%, or the current working directory of the installer.
Child processes spawned by the NVApp installer that do not match NVIDIA-signed binaries.
Module load events showing unsigned or non-NVIDIA-signed DLLs loaded into NVApp installer processes.

Detection Strategies

Monitor process creation events where the parent is the NVApp installer and the child is an unsigned binary or launched from a user-writable directory.
Alert on DLL load events for the installer process where the module path resides outside of Program Files or NVIDIA-managed directories.
Hunt for recently created executables and libraries in %TEMP%, Downloads, and the current working directory immediately before installer execution.

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable Windows Sysmon Event ID 7 (image loaded) and Event ID 1 (process creation) and forward these to your SIEM for correlation.
Track signature validation failures on modules loaded by installer processes, treating unsigned loads by trusted vendor installers as high-priority events.
Review endpoint telemetry for user-triggered installer launches followed by privilege escalation indicators such as new local admin accounts or service creation.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-23358

Immediate Actions Required

Apply the patched NVApp version referenced in the NVIDIA Support Article as soon as it is available in your environment.
Restrict installer execution to administrators and instruct users not to run the NVApp installer from Downloads, Desktop, or other user-writable directories.
Audit endpoints for suspicious binaries in directories that would be searched by the installer at launch time.

Patch Information

NVIDIA has published guidance for CVE-2025-23358 in the NVIDIA Support Article. Apply the fixed NVApp version identified in that advisory. The CVE-2025-23358 Record tracks the vulnerability entry and any subsequent updates.

Workarounds

Move the installer to a directory that only administrators can write to before executing it, eliminating attacker-controlled entries earlier in the search path.
Enforce Windows AppLocker or Windows Defender Application Control policies that block unsigned DLLs and executables from loading in user-writable directories.
Remove write permissions for standard users on any directory that installers commonly resolve dependencies from during setup.

bash

# Configuration example: use PowerShell to identify unsigned modules in the current directory
Get-ChildItem -Path . -Include *.dll,*.exe -Recurse |
    ForEach-Object { Get-AuthenticodeSignature $_.FullName } |
    Where-Object { $_.Status -ne 'Valid' } |
    Select-Object Path, Status, SignerCertificate