CVE-2025-33218: NVIDIA GPU Driver Privilege Escalation Bug

CVE-2025-33218 Overview

CVE-2025-33218 is an integer overflow vulnerability [CWE-190] in the NVIDIA GPU Display Driver for Windows. The flaw resides in the kernel mode layer driver nvlddmkm.sys. A local authenticated attacker can trigger the overflow to corrupt kernel memory state. Successful exploitation may lead to code execution, privilege escalation, data tampering, denial of service, or information disclosure. NVIDIA has published advisory ID 5747 covering the affected driver branches.

Critical Impact
Local attackers with low privileges can escalate to kernel-level code execution by exploiting an integer overflow in the nvlddmkm.sys GPU driver, compromising confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the host.

Affected Products

NVIDIA GPU Display Driver for Windows
Kernel mode layer component nvlddmkm.sys
See the NVIDIA Support Advisory for affected driver branches and fixed versions

Discovery Timeline

2026-01-28 - CVE-2025-33218 published to NVD
2026-04-15 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-33218

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is an integer overflow [CWE-190] in the NVIDIA Windows kernel mode driver nvlddmkm.sys. The driver handles graphics command processing, memory allocation, and Direct3D/OpenGL kernel interactions on behalf of user-mode GPU clients. When the driver computes a size or index from attacker-influenced input without enforcing arithmetic bounds, the result can wrap around the integer type limit. The wrapped value is then used in subsequent memory operations, producing undersized allocations or out-of-bounds writes inside kernel memory.

Because nvlddmkm.sys executes in ring 0, corruption of adjacent kernel structures can be leveraged to overwrite function pointers, manipulate process tokens, or redirect execution flow. The attack does not require user interaction and operates entirely within the local session.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing or incorrect validation of size or count parameters supplied through driver entry points such as DeviceIoControl requests. The arithmetic operation used to compute a buffer length overflows the bounds of its integer type, returning a smaller value than expected. The driver proceeds to allocate or index memory using the corrupted size, breaking memory safety guarantees inside the kernel.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires local access with low privileges, such as a standard interactive user account or a sandboxed process able to reach the GPU driver interface. The attacker issues crafted IOCTL requests or graphics API calls to nvlddmkm.sys with parameters chosen to trigger the overflow. No user interaction is required. Because the GPU driver surface is reachable from low-integrity contexts in many configurations, this vulnerability is relevant to sandbox escape chains and post-exploitation privilege escalation. No public proof-of-concept code is currently available for CVE-2025-33218. Refer to the NVD entry for technical references as they become available.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-33218

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected nvlddmkm.sys bug check (BSOD) entries referencing access violations or pool corruption in WER and Minidump artifacts
New or unsigned processes spawning SYSTEM-level child processes shortly after GPU driver interaction
Kernel pool tag anomalies or DXGI subsystem errors correlated with low-privilege user sessions

Detection Strategies

Monitor Windows Event Log channels Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-PnP and System for repeated nvlddmkm errors and Event ID 41 unexpected restarts
Hunt for low-privilege processes opening handles to GPU device objects followed by token elevation events
Compare installed NVIDIA driver versions across the fleet against the fixed branches listed in the NVIDIA Support Advisory

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable kernel crash dump collection on endpoints with NVIDIA GPUs and forward dumps to a central analysis pipeline
Track driver version inventory continuously and alert on hosts running outdated nvlddmkm.sys builds
Correlate GPU driver fault events with process creation and privilege change telemetry to surface exploitation attempts

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-33218

Immediate Actions Required

Identify all Windows endpoints and workstations with NVIDIA GPU drivers installed using software inventory tooling
Apply the fixed NVIDIA GPU Display Driver release referenced in NVIDIA advisory 5747
Prioritize patching of multi-user systems, virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) hosts, and developer workstations where local users are present

Patch Information

NVIDIA has released updated GPU Display Driver versions that remediate the integer overflow in nvlddmkm.sys. Administrators should consult the NVIDIA Support Advisory for the exact fixed driver branches and download the updated installer from the official NVIDIA driver portal. Validate the deployment by confirming the new driver file version in C:\Windows\System32\drivers\nvlddmkm.sys after installation.

Workarounds

No vendor-supplied workaround replaces the patch; restrict interactive logon on systems where the driver cannot be updated
Apply application allowlisting to limit which processes can issue IOCTLs to the GPU device interface
Where GPU acceleration is not required, disable or uninstall the NVIDIA display driver until patching is complete

bash

# Configuration example: query installed NVIDIA driver version on Windows
wmic path win32_VideoController get Name,DriverVersion
powershell -Command "Get-Item 'C:\Windows\System32\drivers\nvlddmkm.sys' | Select-Object VersionInfo"