Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This is an older Linux Nvidia graphics driver flaw where a race condition could expose kernel memory to userspace. It requires local access and high privileges, limiting broad internet risk, but affected legacy systems may leak sensitive kernel data.
Executive priority
Moderate priority. This is not an internet-facing emergency based on provided evidence, but it matters for legacy Linux fleets, shared systems, and environments where local users or compromised accounts could access kernel memory.
Technical view
CVE-2012-0953 is a CWE-362 race condition in Linux Nvidia graphics driver ioctl handling. The provided description says it can exfiltrate kernel memory to userspace and was fixed in version 295.53. Affected version detail is otherwise unspecified.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to Linux systems running vulnerable Nvidia graphics drivers before the fixed 295.53 release. The source bundle does not define exact affected package versions or distributions beyond Nvidia graphics drivers.
Exploitation context
No active exploitation is supported by the provided sources, and this CVE is not marked KEV. CVSS indicates local attack, high complexity, and high privileges required, so exploitation is more relevant after host access is already obtained.
Researcher notes
Evidence is narrow: affected versions are unspecified, and only the fixed version is named. Treat scope cautiously, validate through distribution package advisories, and avoid assuming all Nvidia driver branches are affected without vendor confirmation.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade Nvidia Linux graphics drivers to version 295.53 or later where applicable.
- For unsupported legacy systems, check Nvidia or distribution guidance for replacement packages.
- Remove Nvidia graphics drivers from systems that do not require them.
- Prioritize remediation on multi-user Linux workstations and shared compute hosts.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Linux hosts with Nvidia graphics drivers installed.
- Verify installed driver versions against the fixed 295.53 version.
- Check distribution package records for backported fixes if versions differ.
- Confirm no exposed shared systems still run vulnerable legacy driver packages.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-362: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2012-0953 mapping review
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Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Medium
- CVSS
- 5 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L0.83.7Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
5MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/nvidia-graphics-drivers/+bug/979373CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization ('Race Condition')
Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization ('Race Condition') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.