CVE-2020-2909 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 5.2.40, prior to 6.0.20 and prior to 6.1.6. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows low privileged attacker with logon to the infrastructure where Oracle VM VirtualBox executes to compromise Oracle VM VirtualBox. Successful attacks require human interaction from a person other than the attacker. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized ability to cause a partial denial of service (partial DOS) of Oracle VM VirtualBox. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 2.8 (Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/08/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-2909 resides within Oracle VM VirtualBox's core component, representing a significant security weakness that affects multiple version lines including those prior to 5.2.40, 6.0.20, and 6.1.6. This issue falls under the category of availability impact vulnerabilities, as classified by the CVSS 3.0 scoring system with a base score of 2.8, indicating a low to medium severity threat. The vulnerability operates with a unique characteristic that requires a specific attack vector involving human interaction, making it distinct from fully automated exploits. The attack scenario necessitates an attacker who already possesses login credentials to the system where VirtualBox is executing, positioning this vulnerability within the realm of privilege escalation and lateral movement threats.
The technical flaw manifests in the core processing mechanisms of VirtualBox, where insufficient validation or sanitization of user inputs leads to potential system instability. This vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers with minimal technical expertise can leverage this weakness, particularly when combined with the requirement for human interaction which often occurs during routine system operations or administrative tasks. The partial denial of service condition suggests that while complete system compromise may not be achievable, the attacker can disrupt normal operations and potentially render VirtualBox functionality partially inoperable. This behavior aligns with CWE-20, which addresses "Improper Input Validation" as a fundamental weakness that can lead to various availability and integrity issues in software systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it creates opportunities for attackers to establish persistent access points within virtualized environments. When considering the ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and persistence mechanisms, as attackers can leverage the compromised VirtualBox instance to maintain access to underlying infrastructure. The requirement for human interaction, while limiting the automated exploitation potential, does not eliminate the threat since many administrative tasks involve user involvement, creating multiple potential attack vectors. Organizations running affected VirtualBox versions face risks of operational disruption, particularly in environments where virtualization is critical for business continuity, as the partial denial of service can affect multiple virtual machines simultaneously.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-2909 should prioritize immediate patching of all affected VirtualBox installations to versions 5.2.40, 6.0.20, or 6.1.6, respectively. System administrators should implement strict access controls and monitoring protocols to detect unauthorized access attempts, particularly focusing on logon activities that precede potential exploitation. Network segmentation and privilege separation measures can reduce the attack surface by limiting the scope of potential exploitation. Additionally, implementing automated patch management systems ensures that all VirtualBox installations remain current with security updates. The vulnerability's classification as requiring human interaction suggests that user education and awareness programs should be strengthened to prevent social engineering attacks that might lead to unauthorized access. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems specifically designed to monitor for VirtualBox-related anomalies that could indicate exploitation attempts.