CVE-2020-14872 in VM VirtualBox
Summary
by MITRE • 10/21/2020
Vulnerability in the Oracle VM VirtualBox product of Oracle Virtualization (component: Core). The supported version that is affected is Prior to 6.1.16. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows high 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 3.1 Base Score 8.2 (Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/25/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-14872 represents a critical security flaw within Oracle VM VirtualBox's core component that affects versions prior to 6.1.16. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-284 which deals with improper access control mechanisms, specifically targeting the privilege escalation capabilities within the virtualization environment. The flaw exists in the underlying infrastructure management layer of VirtualBox, creating a pathway for attackers who already possess legitimate login credentials to escalate their privileges and gain complete control over the virtualization platform.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate access control measures within the VirtualBox core execution environment. An attacker with high-privileged access to the host infrastructure where VirtualBox operates can exploit this weakness to compromise the entire virtualization framework. The CVSS 3.1 scoring of 8.2 reflects the severe impact across all three core security principles: confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The attack vector AV:L indicates local access requirements, while the low attack complexity AC:L suggests that the exploitation process does not require specialized knowledge or resources. The high privilege requirement PR:H demonstrates that attackers must already have elevated access to the underlying system, but this initial access point provides a significant escalation opportunity.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-14872 extends far beyond the immediate VirtualBox environment, potentially affecting multiple interconnected systems and applications that rely on the compromised virtualization infrastructure. When successfully exploited, this vulnerability enables complete takeover of Oracle VM VirtualBox, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code, modify system configurations, and potentially gain access to all virtual machines hosted on the compromised platform. The security implications are particularly severe because virtualization environments often serve as central hubs for multiple applications and services, making this vulnerability a prime target for attackers seeking to establish persistent access within enterprise networks. The CVSS vector configuration (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H) indicates that the vulnerability can cause cascading effects throughout the system architecture, with the potential for widespread compromise.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including mandatory updates to Oracle VM VirtualBox versions 6.1.16 or later, which address this specific access control weakness. Security administrators must also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify systems running affected versions and implement network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the T1068 - Exploitation for Privilege Escalation tactic. Additional mitigations include implementing strict access controls for host systems, monitoring for suspicious authentication patterns, and maintaining comprehensive audit trails to detect unauthorized access attempts. Regular security updates and patch management processes should be prioritized to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future, as this flaw demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining current security implementations in virtualization environments.