CVE-2018-2845 in VM VirtualBox
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Oracle VM VirtualBox component of Oracle Virtualization (subcomponent: Core). Supported versions that are affected are Prior to 5.1.36 and Prior to 5.2.10. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows low privileged attacker with logon to the infrastructure where Oracle VM VirtualBox executes to compromise Oracle VM VirtualBox. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized ability to cause a hang or frequently repeatable crash (complete DOS) of Oracle VM VirtualBox as well as unauthorized update, insert or delete access to some of Oracle VM VirtualBox accessible data and unauthorized read access to a subset of Oracle VM VirtualBox accessible data. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 6.6 (Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:H).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/03/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-2845 resides within Oracle VM VirtualBox's Core component, representing a significant security weakness that affects multiple versions of the virtualization platform. This flaw manifests as a buffer overflow condition that can be exploited by attackers with legitimate login credentials to the host system where VirtualBox operates. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that the attack surface is relatively accessible, requiring only standard user-level privileges rather than elevated administrative rights to potentially compromise the virtualization environment. The affected versions include all releases prior to 5.1.36 and 5.2.10, making a substantial portion of the VirtualBox user base vulnerable to this particular threat.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the VirtualBox Core subsystem, specifically when processing certain data structures that control virtual machine operations. This buffer overflow condition creates an opportunity for attackers to manipulate memory layout and potentially execute arbitrary code within the VirtualBox process context. The flaw's impact extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it provides attackers with the capability to modify or delete critical virtualization data, including virtual machine configurations, disk images, and associated metadata. The vulnerability's CVSS 3.0 score of 6.6 reflects the balanced risk across confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts, with availability being particularly significant due to the potential for complete system crashes.
The operational implications of CVE-2018-2845 are substantial for organizations relying on VirtualBox for their virtualization needs. Attackers who gain access to the host system can leverage this vulnerability to create persistent access points within the virtualization environment, potentially compromising multiple virtual machines running on the same host. The unauthorized update, insert, or delete capabilities allow for data corruption or manipulation that could go undetected for extended periods, while the read access to subset data provides attackers with information that could be used for further targeting of the virtualized infrastructure. This vulnerability directly aligns with CWE-121, which addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a classic example of how insufficient input validation can create security holes in virtualization platforms. The attack vector described in the CVSS vector (AV:L/AC:L/PR:L) indicates that the threat requires only local access with low complexity and low privilege requirements, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users may have legitimate access to host systems.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including prompt patching of affected VirtualBox installations to versions 5.1.36 or 5.2.10 and later. System administrators should also consider implementing additional access controls and monitoring mechanisms to detect unauthorized access attempts to virtualization hosts. The vulnerability's characteristics align with ATT&CK technique T1059, which covers command and scripting interpreter usage, as attackers may leverage this vulnerability to execute commands within the VirtualBox process. Network segmentation and privilege separation measures can help reduce the potential impact of exploitation, while regular vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues in other virtualization components. The remediation process should also include comprehensive testing of patched systems to ensure that the vulnerability has been properly addressed without introducing new operational issues that could affect virtualization performance or stability.