Oracle VM VirtualBox Vulnerability Allows Low Privileged Attackers to Compromise Virtual Machine

CVE-2024-21113

What is CVE-2024-21113?

CVE-2024-21113 is a significant vulnerability identified in Oracle VM VirtualBox, a widely used virtualization product for managing virtual machines. This vulnerability arises from a flaw in the core component of VirtualBox, which allows low-privileged users who have access to the virtualization infrastructure to potentially compromise the system. Because VirtualBox is utilized in various enterprise environments for running multiple operating systems on a single physical machine, this vulnerability could lead to severe disruptions, unauthorized data access, and loss of control over virtualized resources, negatively impacting organizational operations and security.

Technical Details

The vulnerability is classified with a CVSS score of 8.8, indicating a high level of severity. It is prevalent in versions of Oracle VM VirtualBox prior to 7.0.16. The underlying issue involves inadequate access controls that enable low-privileged attackers to exploit the vulnerability once they gain logon access to the machine where VirtualBox is operating. The consequences of such exploitation can extend beyond VirtualBox, potentially affecting interconnected products or systems within the same environment.

Potential Impact of CVE-2024-21113

1. System Takeover: Successful exploitation can lead to complete takeover of the Oracle VM VirtualBox instance, allowing attackers to manipulate or control virtual machines and their associated data.

2. Data Breaches: The vulnerability poses a significant risk to data confidentiality and integrity, as attackers may gain unauthorized access to sensitive information processed within compromised virtual machines.

3. Operational Disruption: Exploiting this vulnerability could disrupt virtualized environments, leading to downtime and negative impacts on business operations that rely on stable and secure virtualization solutions.

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