NVIDIA graphics cards employ specialized error-correcting memory capable of detecting and repairing random data corruption on its own. A new attack called GPUThor has demonstrated that even this protection can be circumvented, leading to memory corruption, GPU failure, and privilege escalation all the way up to root. Tested Across Multiple Ampere-Generation GPUs Researchers at the University of Toronto tested GPUThor against Ampere-generation graphics cards equipped with GDDR6 memory, including the RTX A4000, RTX A4500, RTX A5000, and RTX A6000.

NVIDIA urges ECC activation to mitigate GPUHammer, a RowHammer exploit threatening AI accuracy and data integrity on GPUs.