NVIDIA binary graphics driver: Privilege escalation vulnerability

Background

The NVIDIA binary graphics driver from NVIDIA Corporation provides the kernel module and the GL modules for graphic acceleration on the NVIDIA based graphic cards.

Description

Rapid7 reported a boundary error in the NVIDIA binary graphics driver that leads to a buffer overflow in the accelerated rendering functionality.

Impact

An X client could trigger the buffer overflow with a maliciously crafted series of glyphs. A remote attacker could also entice a user to open a specially crafted web page, document or X client that will trigger the buffer overflow. This could result in the execution of arbitrary code with root privileges or at least in the crash of the X server.

Workaround

Disable the accelerated rendering functionality in the Device section of xorg.conf :

Option "RenderAccel" "false"

Resolution

NVIDIA binary graphics driver users should upgrade to the latest version:

 # emerge --sync
 # emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=x11-drivers/nvidia-drivers-1.0.8776"