CVE-2018-3087 in VM VirtualBox
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Oracle VM VirtualBox component of Oracle Virtualization (subcomponent: Core). The supported version that is affected is Prior to 5.2.16. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with logon to the infrastructure where Oracle VM VirtualBox executes to compromise Oracle VM VirtualBox. Successful attacks require human interaction from a person other than the attacker and while the vulnerability is in Oracle VM VirtualBox, attacks may significantly impact additional products. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in takeover of Oracle VM VirtualBox. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 8.6 (Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/18/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-3087 resides within Oracle VM VirtualBox's Core subcomponent, representing a critical security flaw that affects versions prior to 5.2.16. This vulnerability operates at the infrastructure level where VirtualBox executes, making it particularly dangerous as it allows unauthenticated attackers to compromise the virtualization environment. The attack vector requires local access to the system where VirtualBox is installed, meaning an attacker must already have some level of access to the physical infrastructure. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that the attack mechanisms are straightforward and do not require specialized tools or extensive technical knowledge to execute successfully.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and potential memory corruption issues within the VirtualBox Core component. According to CWE classifications, this vulnerability likely falls under CWE-121, which deals with stack-based buffer overflow conditions, or CWE-787, representing out-of-bounds write conditions. The attack scenario typically involves an attacker leveraging a specific sequence of operations that can be triggered through legitimate VirtualBox functionality, potentially through malformed input or crafted virtual machine configurations. The fact that human interaction is required from someone other than the attacker suggests that the exploitation might involve social engineering elements or require a user to perform specific actions within the VirtualBox environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond the immediate compromise of the VirtualBox instance itself. The CVSS 3.0 score of 8.6 indicates high severity across all three impact metrics, with confidentiality, integrity, and availability all being severely compromised. Successful exploitation can result in complete takeover of the VirtualBox environment, potentially allowing attackers to gain access to all virtual machines running on that host system. This compromise can lead to data theft, system manipulation, and the ability to use the compromised host as a launching point for attacks on other systems within the network. The shared responsibility aspect indicated by the CVSS vector S:C suggests that the impact could extend to other products that depend on or interact with the compromised VirtualBox environment.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2018-3087 centers primarily on upgrading to Oracle VM VirtualBox version 5.2.16 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the vulnerability. Organizations should implement immediate patch management procedures to ensure all VirtualBox installations are updated. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit the potential impact of any successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's requirement for local access means that proper system hardening, including secure configuration of VirtualBox installations and limiting user access to the underlying infrastructure, can significantly reduce the attack surface. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual VirtualBox activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, and incident response procedures should be updated to address potential VirtualBox compromise scenarios.
From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and persistence, as the successful exploitation can provide attackers with elevated privileges within the virtualization environment. The attack chain would likely involve initial access through local system compromise, followed by exploitation of the VirtualBox vulnerability to gain administrative control. The impact on additional products aligns with ATT&CK's concept of lateral movement, as the compromised VirtualBox environment can serve as a platform for attacking connected systems and applications. Organizations should consider implementing the principle of least privilege for VirtualBox installations and regularly audit virtualization environments to detect unauthorized modifications or access attempts. The vulnerability's characteristics also make it a potential candidate for zero-day exploitation scenarios, emphasizing the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and monitoring for emerging threats targeting virtualization platforms.