CVE-2018-3290 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 5.2.20. 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 • 05/29/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-3290 resides within Oracle VM VirtualBox's Core subcomponent, representing a critical security flaw that affects versions prior to 5.2.20. This vulnerability operates within the broader context of virtualization security, where the integrity of the hypervisor becomes paramount to protecting both the virtualized environment and the underlying physical infrastructure. The affected Oracle VM VirtualBox component serves as the foundational core responsible for managing virtual machine execution and resource allocation, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise virtualized environments.
This vulnerability manifests as an easily exploitable flaw that requires an attacker to have logon access to the host infrastructure where Oracle VM VirtualBox operates, yet it does not require authentication to the virtualization platform itself. The technical nature of this flaw involves a combination of local privilege escalation and potential remote code execution capabilities that allow an attacker to gain complete control over the virtualization environment. The vulnerability's classification as CVSS 3.0 Base Score 8.6 indicates high severity across all impact vectors including confidentiality, integrity, and availability, demonstrating the comprehensive nature of potential damage.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-3290 extends beyond the immediate compromise of Oracle VM VirtualBox, as successful exploitation can result in complete takeover of the virtualization platform and potentially affect additional products within the ecosystem. This cascading effect aligns with ATT&CK framework concept of privilege escalation and lateral movement, where initial access to the host system can be leveraged to compromise the virtualization infrastructure and subsequently attack virtual machines running on that platform. The requirement for human interaction from a person other than the attacker suggests that social engineering or physical access scenarios may be necessary for initial compromise, but once achieved, the vulnerability provides substantial control over the virtualized environment.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a significant concern for organizations utilizing Oracle VM VirtualBox in production environments, particularly those that have not updated to version 5.2.20 or later. The vulnerability's classification under CWE 264 indicates issues related to permissions, privileges, and access controls within the virtualization platform, which directly impacts the security posture of virtualized infrastructures. Organizations must implement immediate remediation strategies including patching to version 5.2.20 or later, along with enhanced monitoring of host system access and virtual machine activities. Additional mitigations should include network segmentation to limit access to virtualization hosts, implementation of strict access controls, and regular security assessments to identify potential exploitation attempts.
The broader implications of this vulnerability highlight the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date virtualization platforms, as outdated software versions often contain unpatched security flaws that can provide attackers with significant advantages. This vulnerability demonstrates how hypervisor-level compromises can lead to complete system takeover, making it essential for organizations to maintain robust patch management processes and security monitoring capabilities. The CVSS vector AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H clearly indicates that this vulnerability can be exploited through local access with low complexity, no prior privileges required, and requires human interaction, while the score of 8.6 demonstrates the severe impact potential on all security properties. Organizations must prioritize this vulnerability in their security assessments and remediation planning to protect their virtualized environments from potential exploitation.