CVE-2019-2656 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 5.2.28 and prior to 6.0.6. 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 takeover of Oracle VM VirtualBox. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 8.8 (Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/04/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-2656 represents a critical security flaw within Oracle VM VirtualBox's Core component that affects versions prior to 5.2.28 and 6.0.6. This vulnerability operates at the infrastructure level where VirtualBox executes, making it particularly dangerous as it requires minimal privileges for exploitation. The attack vector is classified as local access, meaning an adversary must already have legitimate login credentials to the host system where VirtualBox is installed. The CVSS 3.0 score of 8.8 indicates a high severity threat that can simultaneously compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) demonstrates a fundamental flaw in the access control mechanisms that should prevent unauthorized modifications to critical system components.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a privilege escalation mechanism that allows an attacker with local access to gain elevated privileges within the VirtualBox environment. This flaw enables attackers to execute arbitrary code at a higher privilege level than initially granted, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The impact extends beyond just VirtualBox itself, as successful exploitation can affect other Oracle products that rely on VirtualBox infrastructure. The vulnerability's characteristics align with ATT&CK technique T1068 (Local Port Knocking) and T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) where attackers can leverage the compromised VirtualBox instance to establish persistent access or escalate privileges further. The attack surface is particularly concerning because VirtualBox instances often run with elevated privileges and may host multiple virtual machines, creating a potential chain reaction of compromise.
From an operational standpoint, organizations running affected VirtualBox versions face significant risk exposure as this vulnerability can be exploited by insiders or attackers who have gained initial access to the host infrastructure. The impact severity is amplified by the fact that VirtualBox installations typically serve as foundational components for development, testing, and production environments. Successful exploitation can result in complete takeover of the VirtualBox service, allowing attackers to modify virtual machine configurations, access guest operating system data, or even create new virtual machines with malicious configurations. The confidentiality impact is severe as attackers can access sensitive data stored within virtual machines, while integrity and availability impacts can disrupt business operations through data corruption or service disruption. Organizations must consider this vulnerability in their broader security posture as it represents a potential entry point for more extensive attacks against their virtualized infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-2656 should prioritize immediate patching of all affected VirtualBox installations to versions 5.2.28 or 6.0.6 and later. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit local access to VirtualBox hosts, reducing the attack surface for potential exploitation. Regular monitoring of VirtualBox processes and system logs should be established to detect unauthorized access attempts or suspicious activities that may indicate exploitation attempts. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by ensuring that VirtualBox executes with minimal required privileges and that virtual machines are configured with appropriate security settings. Organizations should also implement regular security assessments of their virtualization environments and maintain up-to-date inventory of all VirtualBox installations to ensure comprehensive coverage of patching efforts. Additionally, security awareness training for system administrators can help prevent social engineering attacks that might lead to initial access for exploitation of this vulnerability.