CVE-2025-33229 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-427 (Uncontrolled Search Path Element) found in the NVIDIA Nsight Visual Studio Edition Monitor component of the CUDA Toolkit for Windows. This vulnerability arises because the application improperly handles the search path for loading resources or executables, allowing an attacker to influence which code is executed. Specifically, an attacker with limited privileges can place a malicious executable or DLL in a location that the Nsight Monitor searches before the legitimate one, resulting in arbitrary code execution with the same privileges as the monitor application. Since the Nsight Monitor runs with elevated privileges, this can lead to privilege escalation, enabling the attacker to perform unauthorized actions such as data tampering, denial of service, or information disclosure. The CVSS v3.1 score of 7.3 reflects high severity, with attack vector local (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), requiring privileges (PR:L) and user interaction (UI:R). The vulnerability affects all versions of the CUDA Toolkit prior to 13.1, and no patches or exploits are currently publicly available. The vulnerability is particularly relevant in environments where NVIDIA CUDA is used for GPU-accelerated computing, including AI research, scientific simulations, and software development on Windows platforms. The uncontrolled search path element is a common vector for DLL hijacking or binary planting attacks, which can be mitigated by ensuring secure loading paths and environment variable sanitization.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be significant, especially for those relying on NVIDIA CUDA Toolkit for critical computing tasks such as AI development, scientific research, and high-performance computing. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code, potentially leading to data breaches, manipulation of sensitive computational results, disruption of services, or exposure of intellectual property. This could affect sectors including automotive, aerospace, finance, and academia, where GPU-accelerated computing is prevalent. Additionally, the vulnerability could be leveraged as a foothold for lateral movement within networks, increasing the risk of broader compromise. Given the requirement for local access and user interaction, the threat is more relevant in environments with multiple users or where endpoint security is weak. The lack of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk but does not diminish the urgency of remediation due to the high potential impact.

To mitigate CVE-2025-33229, organizations should upgrade all NVIDIA CUDA Toolkit installations to version 13.1 or later, where the vulnerability is addressed. Until patching is possible, implement strict controls on environment variables and search paths used by Nsight Monitor to prevent unauthorized code from being loaded. Restrict write permissions on directories included in the search path to trusted administrators only. Employ application whitelisting and endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting and blocking unauthorized DLL or executable loading. Educate users about the risks of executing untrusted code and the importance of avoiding suspicious interactions that could trigger exploitation. Regularly audit systems for unauthorized files in search paths and monitor logs for unusual Nsight Monitor activity. In environments with shared access, enforce the principle of least privilege to limit the ability of users to place malicious files in monitored directories.