CVE-2021-2283 in VM VirtualBox
Summary
by MITRE • 04/23/2021
Vulnerability in the Oracle VM VirtualBox product of Oracle Virtualization (component: Core). The supported version that is affected is Prior to 6.1.20. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows unauthenticated 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 access to critical data or complete access to all Oracle VM VirtualBox accessible data. CVSS 3.1 Base Score 7.1 (Confidentiality impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N).
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/30/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-2283 represents a significant security flaw within Oracle VM VirtualBox's core component that affects versions prior to 6.1.20. This vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration framework as a privilege escalation issue, specifically categorized under CWE-269: "Improper Privilege Management" which manifests in the improper handling of access controls within the virtualization environment. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers require minimal prerequisites to initiate successful attacks, typically limited to having logon access to the host infrastructure where VirtualBox operates. This creates a dangerous scenario where local system compromise can lead to broader security implications across the virtualized environment.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient access control mechanisms within Oracle VM VirtualBox's core architecture, allowing unauthorized users with local system access to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to sensitive data within the virtualization framework. The CVSS 3.1 scoring system rates this vulnerability at 7.1 out of 10, with the confidentiality impact rated as high, indicating that successful exploitation could result in unauthorized access to critical data or complete access to all data accessible through the VirtualBox instance. The attack vector is classified as local access (AV:L) meaning the attacker must already have access to the host system, while the low access complexity (AC:L) suggests that exploitation requires minimal technical skill. The vulnerability's scope classification as "changed" (S:C) indicates that successful attacks could impact additional products beyond just VirtualBox itself, potentially affecting other systems or applications within the same infrastructure.
The operational impact of CVE-2021-2283 extends far beyond the immediate VirtualBox environment, as it represents a critical compromise point within enterprise virtualization infrastructures. Organizations utilizing Oracle VM VirtualBox for production environments face significant risks, as this vulnerability could enable attackers to access sensitive virtual machine data, potentially leading to data breaches or system compromise across multiple virtualized applications. The vulnerability's potential to impact additional products aligns with ATT&CK framework technique T1078: "Valid Accounts" and T1566: "Phishing" which demonstrates how local privilege escalation can lead to broader system infiltration. Security professionals should note that the vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning given that VirtualBox is commonly used in development and testing environments where sensitive data might be present, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to escalate privileges and access critical organizational information.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-2283 should prioritize immediate patch deployment to upgrade Oracle VM VirtualBox to version 6.1.20 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes to address the privilege escalation vulnerability. Organizations should also implement additional security controls including network segmentation to limit access to VirtualBox host systems, enhanced monitoring for unauthorized access attempts, and regular security assessments of virtualization environments. System administrators should review and tighten access controls on host systems, implement principle of least privilege for VirtualBox users, and consider disabling unnecessary VirtualBox features that could exacerbate the vulnerability. The vulnerability's classification under the Common Vulnerability Scoring System and its alignment with ATT&CK techniques emphasize the need for comprehensive security posture improvements beyond just patch management, including endpoint detection and response capabilities to identify potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing zero trust security models that assume compromise and continuously validate access permissions within virtualized environments to reduce the impact of such vulnerabilities.