CVE-2021-34403

Local privilege escalation via nvmap ioctl use-after-free

Published Jan 18, 2022 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Use-after-free in NVIDIA SHIELD TV before SE 9.0 allows local users to escalate privileges through the nvmap ioctl interface. The ioctl path permits a kernel object to be freed while references to it remain usable, exposing freed memory to attacker-controlled reuse. A local account is required; successful exploitation can execute privileged code, disclose or modify data, or crash the device.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.30%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in NVIDIA SHIELD TV before SE 9.0 allows local users to escalate privileges through the nvmap ioctl interface. The ioctl path permits a kernel object to be freed while references to it remain usable, exposing freed memory to attacker-controlled reuse. A local account is required; successful exploitation can execute privileged code, disclose or modify data, or crash the device.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-34403
Published
Jan 18, 2022
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
NVIDIA
Product
NVIDIA SHIELD TV
Classifications
CWE-416, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 18, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 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=All versions prior to SE 9.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

NVIDIA · NVIDIA SHIELD TVversion=All versions prior to SE 9.0

Published CVSS scores

7.8NVIDIA CorporationCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/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.

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No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-416Use After Free
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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