PatchSiren

PatchSiren cyber security CVE debrief

CVE-2017-0324 Microsoft CVE debrief

CVE-2017-0324 is a high-severity memory-safety issue in NVIDIA's Windows GPU Display Driver kernel component (nvlddmkm.sys). The flaw stems from missing validation of an input buffer size in the DxgkDdiEscape handler, which can lead to a crash and may allow privilege escalation on affected systems.

Vendor
Microsoft
Product
Unknown
CVSS
HIGH 7.8
CISA KEV
Not listed in stored evidence
Original CVE published
2017-02-15
Original CVE updated
2026-05-13
Advisory published
2017-02-15
Advisory updated
2026-05-13

Who should care

Windows administrators, workstation and VDI teams, and security responders managing NVIDIA GPU drivers should prioritize this issue, especially on systems where local users can interact with the graphics stack.

Technical summary

NVD classifies this issue as CWE-119 and assigns a CVSS v3.0 vector of AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. The vulnerable path is the kernel-mode DxgkDdiEscape handler in nvlddmkm.sys, where an input buffer size is not validated before use. The supplied evidence ties the issue to NVIDIA Windows GPU Display Driver, despite the prompt metadata listing Microsoft as vendor.

Defensive priority

High

Recommended defensive actions

  • Inventory affected NVIDIA Windows GPU driver deployments and identify systems using the GPU Display Driver package referenced by the advisory.
  • Apply NVIDIA's security update or driver package guidance from the linked vendor advisory for all affected endpoints.
  • Treat the issue as a local privilege escalation and limit unnecessary local user access on exposed systems until remediation is complete.
  • Monitor for driver crashes or stability issues involving nvlddmkm.sys as a potential indicator of exposure.
  • Confirm remediation after updating by verifying the installed GPU driver version against NVIDIA's advisory guidance.

Evidence notes

The NVD record lists vulnerable CPE criteria for cpe:2.3:a:nvidia:gpu_driver and cites CWE-119. The NVD references point to NVIDIA advisory 4398. The prompt metadata says vendor Microsoft, but the supplied official evidence consistently attributes the vulnerability to NVIDIA Windows GPU Display Driver.

Sources and references

Verified primary and authoritative sources

  • CVE-2017-0324 CVE Program record

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-0324

    CVE Program - Official CVE Program record with source-provided CVE metadata.

  • CVE-2017-0324 NVD vulnerability detail

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-0324

    NIST National Vulnerability Database - Official NIST NVD detail page and source-specific vulnerability assessment.

Methodology and review provenance

AI-assisted synthesis based on stored public vulnerability evidence. System validation, approval state, and publication status do not by themselves establish human review of this revision. PatchSiren helps prioritize defensive review and does not prove exposure or remediation on any system.