CVE-2019-2553 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 • 06/30/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-2553 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 pathway for attackers to compromise the virtualization platform through legitimate system access. The CVSS 3.0 scoring of 3.8 reflects the moderate severity of the issue, with a base score that emphasizes confidentiality impacts while maintaining low attack complexity and privileges required for exploitation.
The technical flaw manifests as an insufficient authorization mechanism within the VirtualBox Core component, allowing authenticated users with low privileges to access restricted data within the virtualization environment. This vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) classification of CWE-284, which specifically addresses improper access control vulnerabilities. The attack vector requires local access to the system where VirtualBox executes, meaning an attacker must first establish a foothold on the host machine before attempting to exploit this weakness. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that the attack surface is relatively accessible, requiring minimal technical expertise to execute successfully.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risks for organizations relying on virtualized infrastructures, as successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized read access to sensitive data within the VirtualBox environment. The security implications extend beyond just the VirtualBox platform itself, potentially affecting other systems that depend on the virtualized environment for operations. The CVSS vector analysis reveals that the vulnerability can cause a contextual impact (S:C) which means that compromise of the VirtualBox system could affect additional products or systems within the broader infrastructure. This cascading effect makes the vulnerability particularly concerning for enterprise environments where virtualization platforms often serve as foundational components for multiple applications and services.
The attack scenario typically begins with an attacker gaining legitimate login credentials to the host system running VirtualBox, which could occur through various means including credential theft, social engineering, or other initial compromise techniques. Once authenticated, the attacker can leverage this vulnerability to access data that should normally be restricted, potentially including virtual machine configurations, guest operating system data, or other sensitive information stored within the virtualized environment. The low privilege requirement (PR:L) and local access vector (AV:L) suggest that this vulnerability could be exploited by insiders or attackers who have already achieved initial system compromise through other means.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including upgrading to Oracle VM VirtualBox versions 5.2.24 or 6.0.2, which contain the necessary security patches to address this vulnerability. System administrators should also conduct comprehensive audits of their virtualization environments to identify any systems running vulnerable versions of VirtualBox. Additional protective measures include implementing strict access controls on host systems, monitoring for unauthorized access attempts, and ensuring that virtualization platforms are properly isolated from other network components. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK framework category T1078 for Valid Accounts and T1068 for Exploitation for Privilege Escalation highlights the importance of layered security approaches that address both authentication and authorization controls within virtualized environments.