CVE-2025-23271 is a security vulnerability identified in the NVIDIA CUDA Toolkit, specifically affecting the nvdisasm binary component. This vulnerability is classified as a CWE-125 out-of-bounds read, which occurs when the nvdisasm tool processes a malformed ELF (Executable and Linkable Format) file. An out-of-bounds read means that the program reads memory outside the intended buffer boundaries, potentially leading to undefined behavior. In this case, the vulnerability can be triggered by an unprivileged user providing a crafted ELF file to nvdisasm, causing the tool to read beyond allocated memory. The consequence of exploiting this vulnerability is primarily a partial denial of service (DoS), where the nvdisasm process may crash or behave unpredictably, disrupting normal operations. The vulnerability affects all versions of the NVIDIA CUDA Toolkit prior to version 13.0, across all supported platforms. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 3.3, indicating a low severity level. The attack vector is local (AV:L), meaning the attacker must have local access to the system. No privileges are required (PR:N), but user interaction is necessary (UI:R) to execute the exploit. The impact is limited to availability (A:L), with no confidentiality or integrity impact. There are no known exploits in the wild at the time of publication, and no patches have been linked yet. This vulnerability highlights the importance of validating input files and handling malformed data safely within software tools that process complex file formats like ELF. Since nvdisasm is a disassembler tool used primarily by developers and researchers working with CUDA binaries, the exposure is somewhat limited to environments where this tool is used.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-23271 is relatively limited due to the low severity and local attack vector. Organizations using NVIDIA CUDA Toolkit for GPU-accelerated computing, particularly in research, scientific computing, and AI development, may experience disruptions if an attacker with local access exploits this vulnerability to cause a denial of service in nvdisasm. This could interrupt debugging or reverse engineering workflows, potentially delaying development cycles. However, since the vulnerability does not allow for privilege escalation, data leakage, or code execution, the risk to critical infrastructure or sensitive data is minimal. The requirement for local access and user interaction further reduces the likelihood of widespread exploitation. Nonetheless, organizations with high reliance on CUDA-based development environments should be aware of this vulnerability to maintain operational stability and avoid unexpected tool crashes. The absence of known exploits in the wild and the availability of an updated CUDA Toolkit version 13.0 mitigate immediate risks, but vigilance is recommended.

To mitigate the risk posed by CVE-2025-23271, European organizations should take the following specific actions: 1) Upgrade to NVIDIA CUDA Toolkit version 13.0 or later as soon as it becomes available, since this version addresses the vulnerability. 2) Restrict access to systems where nvdisasm is installed, ensuring only trusted users can execute this tool, thereby reducing the risk of local exploitation. 3) Implement strict file validation and scanning policies to detect and block malformed ELF files before they are processed by nvdisasm. 4) Monitor and audit usage of nvdisasm binaries to detect unusual crashes or behavior that could indicate exploitation attempts. 5) Educate developers and system administrators about the risks of processing untrusted ELF files and encourage safe handling practices. 6) Consider isolating CUDA development environments or running nvdisasm within sandboxed containers to limit the impact of potential crashes. These measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on controlling local access, input validation, and operational monitoring specific to the affected tool and vulnerability.