CVE-2019-2501 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 5.2.24 and prior to 6.0.2. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows low privileged attacker with logon to the infrastructure where Oracle VM VirtualBox executes to compromise Oracle VM VirtualBox. While the vulnerability is in Oracle VM VirtualBox, attacks may significantly impact additional products. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized read access to a subset of Oracle VM VirtualBox accessible data. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 3.8 (Confidentiality impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:N/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/01/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-2501 resides within Oracle VM VirtualBox's Core subcomponent, representing a significant security weakness that affects versions prior to 5.2.24 and 6.0.2. This flaw operates within the broader context of virtualization security where the integrity of virtual machine environments directly impacts the overall security posture of enterprise infrastructures. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers with minimal privileges can leverage this weakness to compromise the virtualization platform. The attack vector requires local access to the system where VirtualBox operates, meaning an attacker must already have login credentials or physical access to the host machine. This prerequisite significantly reduces the attack surface but does not eliminate the risk, particularly in environments where privileged accounts may be compromised through social engineering or credential theft techniques.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation or memory handling within the VirtualBox Core component, creating opportunities for unauthorized data access. According to the CVSS 3.0 scoring system with a base score of 3.8, this vulnerability primarily impacts confidentiality, allowing attackers to read sensitive data within the virtualization environment. The attack requires low privileges and low complexity, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by users with minimal access rights. The CVSS vector (AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:N/A:N) indicates that the vulnerability operates with local access requirements, low attack complexity, and requires only low privilege levels to exploit. The scope of impact is classified as "changed" (S:C), suggesting that successful exploitation could potentially affect additional products beyond just VirtualBox itself, indicating possible cascading effects throughout the virtualized infrastructure.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-2501 extends beyond simple data theft, as compromised virtualization environments can serve as launching points for more extensive attacks. When attackers successfully exploit this vulnerability, they gain unauthorized read access to a subset of VirtualBox accessible data, which could include virtual machine configurations, guest operating system information, or other sensitive metadata stored within the virtual environment. This access could potentially reveal information about other virtual machines running on the same host, including their configurations, network settings, and potentially even guest operating system details that could be used in subsequent attacks. The vulnerability's potential to impact additional products aligns with the CWE (Common Weakness Enumeration) classification for insufficient input validation or memory safety issues, which often create pathways for privilege escalation or information disclosure attacks.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying the relevant Oracle security patches released for versions 5.2.24 and 6.0.2, which address the core vulnerability within the VirtualBox Core component. System administrators should also consider implementing additional monitoring for unusual access patterns or unauthorized data reads within virtualization environments. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the information gathering and credential access phases, where attackers might use such access to discover additional system information or escalate privileges. Network segmentation and least privilege principles should be enforced to limit the potential impact of any successful exploitation, ensuring that even if an attacker compromises one virtual machine, they cannot easily move laterally to other systems within the virtualized infrastructure. Regular security assessments of virtualization environments are essential to identify similar vulnerabilities and maintain a robust security posture against evolving threats targeting virtualization platforms.