CVE-2025-33237: NVIDIA HD Audio Driver DoS Vulnerability

CVE-2025-33237 Overview

CVE-2025-33237 affects the NVIDIA HD Audio Driver for Windows. The driver contains a NULL pointer dereference flaw [CWE-476] that an attacker with local, low-privileged access can trigger. Successful exploitation leads to denial of service on the affected system.

The vulnerability requires local access and low privileges, with no user interaction needed. The flaw impacts availability only and does not expose confidential data or allow integrity modifications. NVIDIA published a support advisory acknowledging the issue and providing driver updates.

Critical Impact
A local attacker with low privileges can crash the audio driver, producing a denial of service condition on Windows systems running vulnerable NVIDIA HD Audio Driver versions.

Affected Products

NVIDIA HD Audio Driver for Windows
Windows systems with NVIDIA GPU audio components installed
See the NVIDIA Support Article for specific affected driver branches and versions

Discovery Timeline

2026-01-28 - CVE-2025-33237 published to NVD
2026-04-15 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-33237

Vulnerability Analysis

The NVIDIA HD Audio Driver for Windows contains a NULL pointer dereference defect [CWE-476]. The driver code path dereferences a pointer without verifying that it references a valid object. When the pointer holds a NULL value, the dereference triggers an access violation in kernel or driver context.

Because the affected component is a Windows audio driver, the resulting fault generally manifests as a bug check or driver crash. This produces denial of service on the host. Confidentiality and integrity are not affected, consistent with a pure availability impact.

The attack requires local access and low privileges. A standard user account on the system can interact with the audio driver interface and supply input that reaches the vulnerable code path. No user interaction is required beyond the attacker's own activity.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing pointer validation before dereference within the NVIDIA HD Audio Driver. A code path receives or computes a pointer that can be NULL under attacker-influenced conditions. The driver reads or writes through the pointer without checking it, causing a fault.

Attack Vector

A local attacker invokes driver functionality through IOCTLs or other supported interfaces exposed to user mode. By supplying crafted parameters or triggering the precondition that leaves an internal pointer unset, the attacker forces the driver into the vulnerable code path. The dereference crashes the driver and degrades or halts system audio services, and in kernel-mode driver scenarios can produce a system bug check.

No verified public proof-of-concept is available for CVE-2025-33237. Refer to the NVD CVE-2025-33237 Detail and the CVE.org Record CVE-2025-33237 for authoritative technical references.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-33237

Indicators of Compromise

Repeated Windows bug checks or audio service crashes referencing NVIDIA HD Audio Driver modules
Event Log entries indicating unexpected driver faults from NVIDIA audio components
Local processes repeatedly opening handles to the NVIDIA audio device and issuing unusual IOCTLs

Detection Strategies

Monitor Windows Error Reporting and WER minidumps for faults attributed to the NVIDIA HD Audio Driver image
Track System event log entries with source Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-General and bug check codes following audio driver activity
Correlate low-privileged process activity with crashes in the audio subsystem to identify deliberate triggering attempts

Monitoring Recommendations

Inventory endpoints running NVIDIA HD Audio Driver versions and flag those below the patched build referenced in the NVIDIA Support Article
Alert on repeated audio driver crashes from the same user context within a short interval
Forward Windows kernel and driver event logs to a centralized analytics platform for retrospective hunting

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-33237

Immediate Actions Required

Apply the updated NVIDIA HD Audio Driver version published in the NVIDIA Support Article
Identify all Windows endpoints with NVIDIA GPUs and confirm installed audio driver versions
Restrict local interactive logon to trusted users on systems pending patch deployment

Patch Information

NVIDIA published a security notice for this issue. Administrators should download the latest GeForce, Studio, RTX/Quadro, or Data Center driver package containing the patched HD Audio Driver component. Consult the NVIDIA Support Article for the specific fixed versions tied to each driver branch.

Workarounds

Limit local account privileges and enforce least privilege for non-administrative users
Disable the NVIDIA HD Audio device in Device Manager on systems that do not require GPU audio output, if patching must be delayed
Monitor for and respond to repeated audio driver faults that may indicate exploitation attempts

bash

# Query installed NVIDIA HD Audio Driver version on Windows (PowerShell)
Get-PnpDevice -Class MEDIA | Where-Object { $_.FriendlyName -like "*NVIDIA*Audio*" } |
  ForEach-Object {
    Get-PnpDeviceProperty -InstanceId $_.InstanceId -KeyName 'DEVPKEY_Device_DriverVersion'
  }