CVE-2025-23276 is a vulnerability identified in the NVIDIA GPU Display Drivers for Windows, specifically affecting versions R535, R570, and R575. The root cause is improper access control on files or directories used by the NVIDIA installer, classified under CWE-552, which involves files or directories being accessible to unauthorized external parties. This flaw allows an attacker with limited privileges (local access with low privileges) to escalate their privileges without requiring user interaction. The vulnerability can lead to multiple severe consequences including privilege escalation, denial of service, arbitrary code execution, information disclosure, and data tampering. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.8, indicating high severity, with an attack vector of local (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), requiring privileges (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), and impacting confidentiality, integrity, and availability at a high level (C:H/I:H/A:H). Although no active exploits have been reported in the wild, the vulnerability presents a significant risk due to the critical role of NVIDIA GPU drivers in many systems, especially in environments relying on GPU-accelerated computing. The vulnerability was reserved in January 2025 and published in August 2025, but no patches or exploit indicators are currently available, emphasizing the need for vigilance and proactive mitigation.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a substantial risk given the widespread deployment of NVIDIA GPUs across industries such as finance, manufacturing, research, and government. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to gain elevated privileges on affected systems, potentially leading to full system compromise. This could result in unauthorized access to sensitive data, disruption of critical services through denial of service, and the ability to execute malicious code that could propagate laterally within networks. The impact is particularly severe for organizations relying on GPU-accelerated workloads or those with high-value intellectual property. Additionally, the lack of user interaction required for exploitation increases the likelihood of automated or stealthy attacks. The vulnerability could also be leveraged in targeted attacks against high-profile European entities, amplifying geopolitical risks. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for organizations to prepare defenses before active exploitation emerges.

1. Monitor NVIDIA’s official channels closely for patches addressing CVE-2025-23276 and apply them immediately upon release. 2. Restrict access permissions on directories and files related to NVIDIA GPU drivers and installers to trusted administrators only, minimizing exposure to unauthorized users. 3. Implement application whitelisting to prevent unauthorized execution of installer components or related binaries. 4. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to detect unusual privilege escalation attempts or suspicious activity related to NVIDIA driver processes. 5. Conduct regular audits of local user privileges and remove unnecessary administrative rights to reduce the attack surface. 6. Isolate critical systems that utilize NVIDIA GPUs within segmented network zones to limit lateral movement in case of compromise. 7. Educate IT staff about this vulnerability to ensure rapid response and containment if exploitation attempts are detected. 8. Consider deploying host-based intrusion prevention systems (HIPS) that can block unauthorized file system access or modifications related to the NVIDIA driver installation paths.