CVE-2016-5608 in VM VirtualBox
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the Oracle VM VirtualBox component before 5.0.28 and 5.1.x before 5.1.8 in Oracle Virtualization allows local users to affect availability via vectors related to Core, a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-5613.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/27/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-5608 affects Oracle VM VirtualBox versions prior to 5.0.28 and 5.1.x versions before 5.1.8, representing a critical availability threat within virtualization environments. This unspecified flaw resides within the Core component of VirtualBox, which serves as the fundamental architecture layer responsible for managing virtual machine operations and system resources. The vulnerability specifically targets local users who possess access to the virtualization host system, enabling them to potentially disrupt the availability of virtualized environments through manipulation of core virtualization functions.
This weakness falls under the category of availability impact as defined by the Common Weakness Enumeration framework, specifically aligning with CWE-400 which addresses unchecked resource consumption and system instability. The vulnerability's classification as a local threat indicates that exploitation requires prior access to the target system, making it less immediately dangerous than remote exploits but still highly concerning for environments where privilege escalation risks exist. The fact that this vulnerability is distinct from CVE-2016-5613 demonstrates that Oracle VirtualBox contained multiple separate weaknesses within its core architecture, each potentially exploitable by local attackers.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-5608 extends beyond simple system crashes or restarts, as it can potentially lead to complete virtual machine service disruption and resource exhaustion within the host environment. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability could cause denial of service conditions that affect multiple virtual machines simultaneously, leading to cascading failures in virtualized infrastructures. This type of attack vector particularly threatens enterprise environments that rely heavily on virtualization for server consolidation and resource optimization, where a single compromised host could impact numerous virtualized applications and services.
From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the 'Defense Evasion' and 'Impact' domains, specifically targeting system availability through resource manipulation. The attack surface for this vulnerability encompasses virtual machine management interfaces, host system access points, and core virtualization kernel modules. Organizations utilizing Oracle VirtualBox in production environments should consider implementing comprehensive patch management protocols, network segmentation, and privileged access controls to mitigate exposure to this threat. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date virtualization software and conducting regular security assessments of virtualized infrastructures to prevent potential availability disruptions that could compromise business continuity and operational resilience.