CVE-2018-3090 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-2018-3090 represents a critical security flaw within Oracle VM VirtualBox's Core component, specifically affecting versions prior to 5.2.16. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-284 which deals with improper access control mechanisms, making it particularly dangerous in virtualized environments where multiple users and processes interact with shared resources. The flaw exists within Oracle's virtualization platform that is widely deployed across enterprise environments, creating a significant risk for organizations relying on virtual machine technology for their infrastructure.
The technical nature of this vulnerability allows an unauthenticated attacker who has already gained logon access to the underlying infrastructure where Oracle VM VirtualBox operates to compromise the virtualization platform itself. This represents a privilege escalation scenario where initial access to the host system provides a pathway to fully compromise the virtualization environment. The CVSS 3.0 score of 8.6 indicates high severity with impacts across confidentiality, integrity, and availability domains, demonstrating the comprehensive nature of potential damage. The attack vector AV:L (local access) combined with low attack complexity AC:L suggests that the vulnerability is relatively easy to exploit once an attacker has established initial foothold on the host system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond just the immediate compromise of Oracle VM VirtualBox, as successful exploitation can result in a complete takeover of the virtualization platform. This means that attackers could potentially gain access to all virtual machines running on the compromised host, effectively breaking the isolation that virtualization is designed to provide. The requirement for human interaction UI:R indicates that while the vulnerability itself is not directly exploitable through network-based attacks, it requires some form of user engagement or specific conditions that make it particularly concerning for environments where users might be tricked into performing actions that trigger the vulnerability. The scope of impact S:C suggests that the vulnerability can affect additional products beyond just Oracle VM VirtualBox, potentially creating cascading effects throughout the enterprise infrastructure.
Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of Oracle VM VirtualBox installations to version 5.2.16 or later to address this vulnerability. The mitigation strategy should include implementing strict access controls on the host systems where VirtualBox operates, as well as monitoring for unusual activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and principle of least privilege should be enforced to limit the potential impact if the vulnerability is exploited. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their virtualization environments to identify any other potential vulnerabilities that might be exploited in conjunction with this flaw. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK techniques related to privilege escalation and lateral movement, making it particularly dangerous in environments where virtual machines are used for sensitive data processing or contain critical infrastructure components.