CVE-2021-1120

Guest-to-host code execution via unterminated string

Published Oct 29, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Improper null termination in NVIDIA vGPU Software allows guest OS users to execute code through a Virtual GPU Manager string. The Virtual GPU Manager plugin fails to guarantee a terminating null byte on a guest-provided string, allowing later string handling to cross its intended boundary. A low-privileged guest context and high-complexity conditions are required; possible consequences include host data exposure or modification, code execution, and service interruption, although NVIDIA states that the guest cannot control content pushed to the plugin.

CVSS severity7.0
High
EPSS probability0.24%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper null termination in NVIDIA vGPU Software allows guest OS users to execute code through a Virtual GPU Manager string. The Virtual GPU Manager plugin fails to guarantee a terminating null byte on a guest-provided string, allowing later string handling to cross its intended boundary. A low-privileged guest context and high-complexity conditions are required; possible consequences include host data exposure or modification, code execution, and service interruption, although NVIDIA states that the guest cannot control content pushed to the plugin.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-1120
Published
Oct 29, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
NVIDIA
Product
NVIDIA vGPU Software
Classifications
CWE-170
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 29, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 3, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=vGPU version 13.x (prior to 13.1), 12.x (prior to 12.4), version 11.x (prior to 11.6) and version 8.x (prior 8.9).

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

NVIDIA · NVIDIA vGPU Softwareversion=vGPU version 13.x (prior to 13.1), 12.x (prior to 12.4), version 11.x (prior to 11.6) and version 8.x (prior 8.9).

Published CVSS scores

7.0NVIDIA CorporationCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-170Improper Null Termination

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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