CVE-2019-3028 in VM VirtualBox
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Oracle VM VirtualBox product of Oracle Virtualization (component: Core). Supported versions that are affected are Prior to 5.2.34 and prior to 6.0.14. 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).
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/15/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-3028 represents a critical security flaw within Oracle VM VirtualBox's core component that affects versions prior to 5.2.34 and 6.0.14. This vulnerability operates at the system level within the virtualization infrastructure, creating a pathway for attackers who already possess legitimate login credentials to escalate their privileges and gain full control over the virtualization environment. The CVSS 3.0 score of 8.8 indicates a high-severity threat with significant impacts across confidentiality, integrity, and availability domains, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments that rely heavily on virtualization technologies.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and access control mechanisms within the VirtualBox core functionality. Attackers with low-privileged access to the host system where VirtualBox operates can exploit this weakness to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, effectively bypassing the intended security boundaries between virtual machines and the underlying host infrastructure. This flaw operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-284, which specifically addresses improper access control vulnerabilities that allow unauthorized users to gain elevated privileges or access restricted resources. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal complexity as indicated by the low attack complexity score, making it particularly attractive to threat actors who have already established a foothold within the network.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-3028 extends far beyond the immediate compromise of the VirtualBox application itself. Successful exploitation can result in complete system takeover, allowing attackers to access all virtual machines managed by the compromised VirtualBox instance, potentially leading to data breaches, lateral movement within the network, and disruption of critical business operations. The security implications are compounded by the fact that this vulnerability affects the foundational virtualization layer, meaning that any systems relying on VirtualBox for virtual machine management become vulnerable to attacks that could compromise entire virtualized environments. The CVSS vector AV:L/AC:L/PR:L indicates that the attack requires local access with low complexity and low privilege levels, making it particularly concerning for organizations where physical or network access might be limited but still achievable.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through patch management processes, upgrading to VirtualBox versions 5.2.34 or 6.0.14 and later. Additional mitigations include implementing network segmentation to limit access to virtualization infrastructure, enforcing strict access controls and privilege management, and monitoring for unusual activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK framework techniques related to privilege escalation and lateral movement, where attackers can use such weaknesses to establish persistent access and expand their control within the virtualized environment. Security teams should conduct comprehensive assessments of their virtualization infrastructure to identify any systems running vulnerable versions and implement layered security controls to reduce the attack surface and minimize potential impact from similar vulnerabilities.