CVE-2010-4414 in VM VirtualBox
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Oracle VM VirtualBox 4.0 allows local users to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability via unknown vectors related to Extensions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/12/2021
Oracle VM VirtualBox version 4.0 contains an unspecified vulnerability within its extension subsystem that enables local attackers to compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system. This vulnerability resides in the extension handling mechanisms and represents a critical security flaw that could be exploited by malicious users with local access privileges. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability vectors suggests that multiple attack surfaces within the extension framework may be susceptible to exploitation, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate extension components in ways that could compromise system security. The impact spans all three core security principles as defined by the CIA triad, meaning that unauthorized parties could gain access to sensitive information, modify system data, or disrupt system operations through these extension-related attack vectors.
The vulnerability specifically relates to how VirtualBox handles extension components, which are typically used to enhance functionality and provide additional features within the virtualization environment. These extensions often require elevated privileges to operate correctly and may interact directly with system resources, making them attractive targets for exploitation. The local nature of the vulnerability indicates that attackers must already have access to the system to exploit it, but this access could be gained through various means such as social engineering, credential compromise, or other initial attack vectors. The extension subsystem in VirtualBox 4.0 likely processes and loads third-party or proprietary extensions that may not be properly validated or sanitized, creating potential entry points for malicious code execution or privilege escalation.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations that rely on VirtualBox for their virtualization infrastructure. The ability to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability simultaneously means that a successful exploitation could result in complete system compromise, data breaches, or service disruptions. Attackers could potentially use this vulnerability to install persistent backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive data, modify virtual machine configurations, or cause denial of service conditions that would impact business operations. The impact is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where VirtualBox may be used to run critical applications or store sensitive information, as the vulnerability could be leveraged to gain unauthorized access to corporate resources.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of the ATT&CK framework, where it may map to techniques involving privilege escalation, persistence, and defense evasion through the manipulation of system components. The vulnerability aligns with CWE categories related to improper input validation and insufficient privilege management, particularly CWE-20 for improper input validation and CWE-269 for improper privilege management. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of VirtualBox, reviewing extension configurations, and monitoring for suspicious activity related to extension loading or modification. Additionally, security teams should consider network segmentation and access controls to limit local user privileges, as the vulnerability requires local access to exploit. The recommended approach involves comprehensive patch management, extension validation procedures, and regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities within virtualization environments.