CVE-2019-2505 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-2019-2505 resides within Oracle VM VirtualBox's Core subcomponent, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of virtualized environments. This vulnerability affects Oracle VM VirtualBox versions prior to 5.2.24 and 6.0.2, creating a significant risk for organizations relying on virtualization technologies for their computing infrastructure. The flaw manifests as an easily exploitable condition that permits low-privileged attackers who have already gained access to the underlying physical infrastructure to compromise the virtualization layer itself. The attack vector requires only local access to the system where VirtualBox operates, making it particularly dangerous in environments where physical security is compromised or where attackers have already established a foothold through other means.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient access controls and potential privilege escalation mechanisms within the VirtualBox core architecture. The CVSS 3.0 scoring system rates this vulnerability with a base score of 3.8, classified as a low attack complexity and low privilege requirement, indicating that the flaw can be exploited with minimal resources and expertise. The attack requires only local access to the system, meaning that an attacker who has already established a presence on the host system can leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data within the VirtualBox environment. The confidentiality impact is rated as low, suggesting that the primary threat involves unauthorized data reading rather than complete system compromise or data modification. This vulnerability falls under the CWE category of inadequate access control, specifically addressing weaknesses in access restriction mechanisms that allow unauthorized information disclosure.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-2505 extends beyond the immediate VirtualBox environment, potentially affecting additional Oracle products and systems that rely on virtualization infrastructure. Organizations using VirtualBox for development, testing, or production environments face significant risks as attackers can exploit this vulnerability to access virtual machine data, potentially including sensitive configuration information, user credentials, or application data stored within virtualized environments. The security implications become particularly severe when considering that many organizations utilize virtualization platforms as foundational components of their IT infrastructure, making this vulnerability a potential gateway for broader attacks. The low privilege requirement combined with the local access vector means that even attackers who have only basic system access can potentially escalate their privileges and access virtualized data. This vulnerability also represents a significant concern for compliance and regulatory environments where data isolation and access controls are paramount.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-2505 primarily focus on immediate patching and system updates to bring affected VirtualBox installations to versions 5.2.24 or 6.0.2. Organizations should conduct comprehensive inventory assessments to identify all systems running vulnerable VirtualBox versions and prioritize immediate remediation. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit local system access, particularly for systems running virtualization software. The implementation of principle of least privilege should be enforced to ensure that users with local access to virtualization hosts have only the necessary permissions for their operational requirements. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts, including unusual access patterns or unauthorized data reading activities within virtualized environments. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing virtualization-specific security controls and regularly reviewing virtual machine configurations to minimize potential attack surfaces. This vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date virtualization platforms and implementing robust security controls around virtualized environments as part of broader cybersecurity strategies. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation and credential access tactics, making it a significant concern for organizations implementing comprehensive threat hunting and incident response procedures.