CVE-2021-2129 in VM VirtualBox
Summary
by MITRE • 01/20/2021
Vulnerability in the Oracle VM VirtualBox product of Oracle Virtualization (component: Core). The supported version that is affected is Prior to 6.1.18. 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 unauthorized creation, deletion or modification access to critical data or all Oracle VM VirtualBox accessible data as well as unauthorized access to critical data or complete access to all Oracle VM VirtualBox accessible data. CVSS 3.1 Base Score 7.9 (Confidentiality and Integrity impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/18/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-2129 represents a critical security flaw within Oracle VM VirtualBox's core component that affects versions prior to 6.1.18. This vulnerability operates at a fundamental level within the virtualization infrastructure, creating a significant attack surface that can be exploited by adversaries with elevated privileges. The flaw manifests as a privilege escalation vulnerability that allows attackers who already possess legitimate access to the host system where VirtualBox operates to gain unauthorized access to the virtualization environment itself. The CVSS score of 7.9 indicates a high severity rating that reflects the potential for substantial data compromise and system integrity violations.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient access controls and privilege management within the VirtualBox core architecture. Attackers with high-privileged access to the host infrastructure can leverage this flaw to manipulate the virtualization layer itself, potentially enabling them to create, delete, or modify critical virtual machine data without proper authorization. This vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration framework as a privilege escalation issue, specifically categorized under CWE-276 which addresses incorrect permissions for critical resources. The attack vector requires local access with high privileges, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrative accounts are compromised or where attackers have already established a foothold within the system.
The operational impact of CVE-2021-2129 extends far beyond the immediate VirtualBox environment, as successful exploitation can result in cascading security failures across interconnected systems. When an attacker compromises the VirtualBox core component, they gain access to all virtual machines managed by that instance, potentially exposing sensitive data, confidential information, and critical system resources. The vulnerability's ability to affect "additional products" indicates that the compromised virtualization layer can serve as a launching point for broader attacks against other systems within the network infrastructure. This represents a significant concern for enterprise environments that rely heavily on virtualization technologies for their operational continuity and security posture.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK framework techniques including T1068 for privilege escalation and T1566 for credential access. The attack scenario typically involves an adversary who has already gained access to the host system through other means, such as exploiting a different vulnerability or obtaining legitimate credentials. Once inside the host environment, the attacker can utilize this vulnerability to escalate privileges within the virtualization layer and subsequently access all data and resources available through the VirtualBox instance. The potential for unauthorized access to critical data and complete access to all accessible data makes this vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors seeking persistent access to enterprise environments.
Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of all affected VirtualBox installations to address this vulnerability. The remediation process involves upgrading to Oracle VM VirtualBox version 6.1.18 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes and access control improvements. Security teams should also implement additional monitoring measures to detect potential exploitation attempts, particularly focusing on unusual access patterns or privilege escalation activities within virtualization environments. Network segmentation and principle of least privilege should be enforced to limit the potential impact if exploitation occurs, while regular vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify other potential entry points that could be exploited in conjunction with this vulnerability.