CVE-2018-3088 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-2018-3088 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, creating a pathway for attackers to compromise the virtualization environment. The flaw's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers can leverage it without requiring authentication, though they must have logon access to the target infrastructure. This creates a scenario where an attacker with physical or remote access to the host system can potentially gain control over the virtualization platform, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple virtual machines operate on a single host.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involves a flaw in how Oracle VM VirtualBox processes certain inputs or operations within its Core component, though the specific implementation details remain undisclosed in the public CVE description. The CVSS 3.0 score of 8.6 reflects the high severity of this flaw, with scores of 8.6 across Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability metrics indicating that successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise. The attack vector AV:L indicates local access is required, meaning the attacker needs to have some form of access to the system where VirtualBox is running. The low attack complexity AC:L suggests that the exploitation process does not require sophisticated techniques, while the lack of privilege requirements PR:N means no elevated access is needed. The human interaction requirement UI:R indicates that while the attacker can initiate the attack, some form of user action is required to complete the exploit, though this interaction is typically minimal or automated.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-3088 extends beyond the immediate VirtualBox environment, as successful exploitation can potentially affect other products that rely on or interact with the compromised virtualization platform. This cascading effect can result in significant compromise of the entire virtualized infrastructure, potentially leading to data breaches, system takeover, and disruption of business operations. Organizations running multiple virtual machines on affected VirtualBox installations face particularly high risk, as a single compromised host can provide attackers with access to numerous guest operating systems and their respective data. The availability impact of H indicates that systems may become completely inaccessible or unusable, while the high confidentiality and integrity impacts suggest that attackers can read sensitive data and modify system components without detection.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and represents a classic example of how flaws in core system components can create widespread security risks. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability could be leveraged as part of a broader attack chain, potentially enabling techniques such as privilege escalation, persistence, and lateral movement within the compromised environment. The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate upgrading to Oracle VM VirtualBox version 5.2.16 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this vulnerability. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities, ensuring that only authorized personnel have access to systems running VirtualBox. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues before they can be exploited by malicious actors.