CVE-2019-2696 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 described in CVE-2019-2696 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 falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-284 which specifically addresses improper access control mechanisms, making it particularly dangerous in virtualized environments where multiple users and processes interact with shared resources. The flaw exists in the underlying virtualization framework that governs how VirtualBox manages system resources and executes guest operating systems, creating a potential pathway for unauthorized access and system compromise.
The technical nature of this vulnerability allows a low-privileged attacker who has already gained access to the host system where Oracle VM VirtualBox is running to escalate their privileges and ultimately take complete control of the virtualization platform itself. This represents a significant escalation of privilege vulnerability that operates at the core level of the virtualization stack, enabling attackers to bypass normal security boundaries that typically separate guest operating systems from the host environment. The CVSS 3.0 score of 8.8 reflects the high severity and the comprehensive impact across confidentiality, integrity, and availability domains, indicating that successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond the immediate VirtualBox environment, as demonstrated by the CVSS vector showing a scope change (S:C) that indicates the attack can affect additional products and systems within the broader infrastructure. This means that an attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially compromise not only the virtualization platform but also other systems that depend on or interact with the compromised VirtualBox environment. The low attack complexity (AC:L) and low privilege requirement (PR:L) make this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it requires minimal resources and expertise to exploit, while the lack of user interaction (UI:N) means the attack can occur automatically without user involvement.
Organizations utilizing Oracle VM VirtualBox should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to versions 5.2.28 or 6.0.6, which contain the necessary patches to address this vulnerability. Additional protective measures should include implementing strict access controls for systems running VirtualBox, monitoring for unauthorized access attempts, and conducting regular security assessments of virtualization environments. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date virtualization software and highlights the risks associated with running outdated versions of virtualization platforms that may contain unpatched security flaws. Security teams should also consider implementing network segmentation and additional monitoring controls to detect potential exploitation attempts and limit the lateral movement capabilities of attackers who might gain access through this vulnerability.