CVE-2025-33219: NVIDIA Linux Driver Privilege Escalation

CVE-2025-33219 Overview

CVE-2025-33219 is an integer overflow or wraparound vulnerability [CWE-190] in the NVIDIA Display Driver for Linux. The flaw resides in the NVIDIA kernel module and can be triggered by a local attacker with low privileges. Successful exploitation can lead to code execution, escalation of privileges, data tampering, denial of service, or information disclosure. The vulnerability requires no user interaction and operates entirely within the local attack surface.

Critical Impact
A local, low-privileged attacker can escalate to kernel-level code execution on affected Linux systems running the NVIDIA Display Driver, compromising confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Affected Products

NVIDIA Display Driver for Linux (NVIDIA kernel module)
Refer to the NVIDIA Support Article for the full list of affected branches and versions
Linux systems with the vulnerable NVIDIA kernel module loaded

Discovery Timeline

2026-01-28 - CVE-2025-33219 published to NVD
2026-04-15 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-33219

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is an integer overflow or wraparound condition [CWE-190] inside the NVIDIA kernel module shipped with the NVIDIA Display Driver for Linux. Integer overflow flaws occur when an arithmetic operation produces a value that exceeds the storage capacity of the target integer type. The result wraps around to an unintended small or negative value. Inside a kernel driver, such miscalculations frequently feed into size or length parameters used for memory allocation, buffer indexing, or bounds checks.

When the wrapped value is later used to allocate or access memory, the kernel may operate on a buffer that is smaller than expected. This creates conditions for out-of-bounds memory access, heap corruption, or logic bypass. According to NVIDIA, successful exploitation can result in arbitrary code execution within the kernel, escalation of privileges from a local user account to root, tampering with kernel data structures, denial of service through a kernel crash, or disclosure of kernel memory contents.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing or insufficient validation of integer values before they participate in arithmetic operations within the NVIDIA kernel module. The arithmetic produces a wrapped value that is treated by downstream code as legitimate, undermining subsequent size checks and memory operations.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires local access and low privileges on the target Linux host. The attacker interacts with the NVIDIA kernel module through its standard interfaces, such as device file ioctl handlers exposed under /dev/nvidia*. No user interaction is required from another user. The vulnerable code path is reachable from an unprivileged local context that has been granted access to the NVIDIA device nodes, which is typical for desktop, workstation, and GPU compute environments.

No public proof-of-concept or in-the-wild exploitation has been reported. The EPSS probability is 0.006%.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-33219

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected kernel oops, panics, or Oops: entries in dmesg or /var/log/kern.log referencing nvidia modules.
New or unexplained SUID processes, root shells, or privilege transitions originating from unprivileged user sessions on hosts with the NVIDIA driver loaded.
Unusual ioctl traffic to /dev/nvidia0, /dev/nvidiactl, /dev/nvidia-uvm, or related device nodes from non-GPU workloads.

Detection Strategies

Inventory all Linux hosts with the NVIDIA Display Driver installed and compare the loaded module version against fixed releases listed in the NVIDIA advisory.
Monitor kernel ring buffer messages for crashes, taints, or warnings emitted by the nvidia module.
Audit process execution for unprivileged users invoking GPU tooling or custom binaries that issue ioctls to NVIDIA device nodes outside of expected workloads.

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable auditd rules on /dev/nvidia* device files to track open, ioctl, and mmap operations by user and process.
Forward kernel logs and audit events to a centralized SIEM and alert on kernel taints, module-related crashes, and post-crash privilege changes.
Track changes to the loaded kernel module version (modinfo nvidia) across the fleet to confirm patch deployment.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-33219

Immediate Actions Required

Apply the NVIDIA Display Driver update referenced in the NVIDIA Support Article to all affected Linux hosts.
Identify systems running vulnerable driver branches using nvidia-smi and modinfo nvidia and prioritize multi-user, shared, and GPU compute systems.
Restrict local shell and container access on hosts where patching cannot be performed immediately.

Patch Information

NVIDIA has published updated Linux driver packages addressing the integer overflow in the NVIDIA kernel module. Consult the official NVIDIA Support Article for the full list of fixed driver branches and download links. Additional metadata is available in the NVD record for CVE-2025-33219 and the CVE.org Record for CVE-2025-33219.

Workarounds

Restrict access to NVIDIA device nodes using filesystem permissions and group membership so that only trusted users can issue ioctls.
Unload the NVIDIA kernel module on systems that do not require GPU functionality using modprobe -r nvidia and blacklist it until patches are applied.
Limit local logon rights on shared GPU servers and isolate untrusted workloads in separate hosts or strongly confined containers.

bash

# Verify installed NVIDIA driver version and module status
nvidia-smi --query-gpu=driver_version --format=csv,noheader
modinfo nvidia | grep -E '^(version|filename):'

# Tighten permissions on NVIDIA device nodes (example)
ls -l /dev/nvidia*
chown root:nvidia /dev/nvidia*
chmod 0660 /dev/nvidia*

# Temporarily unload the module on non-GPU systems
sudo modprobe -r nvidia_uvm nvidia_drm nvidia_modeset nvidia