CVE-2021-2443 in VM VirtualBox
Summary
by MITRE • 07/21/2021
Vulnerability in the Oracle VM VirtualBox product of Oracle Virtualization (component: Core). The supported version that is affected is Prior to 6.1.24. 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 ability to cause a hang or frequently repeatable crash (complete DOS) of Oracle VM VirtualBox as well as unauthorized update, insert or delete access to some of Oracle VM VirtualBox accessible data and unauthorized read access to a subset of Oracle VM VirtualBox accessible data. Note: This vulnerability applies to Solaris x86 and Linux systems only. CVSS 3.1 Base Score 7.3 (Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:H).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/25/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-2443 represents a critical security flaw within Oracle VM VirtualBox's core component that affects systems running prior to version 6.1.24. This vulnerability operates within the realm of privilege escalation and local attack vectors, specifically targeting environments where Oracle VM VirtualBox executes with elevated privileges. The flaw manifests as an easily exploitable weakness that requires only a high-privileged attacker who already possesses logon access to the underlying infrastructure hosting the virtualization environment. This attack scenario aligns with the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation tactics where adversaries leverage existing access to gain broader system control.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and memory management within the VirtualBox core subsystem. Attackers can exploit this weakness to induce a complete denial of service condition, causing the virtualization platform to hang or crash repeatedly, effectively rendering the virtual machines unusable. Additionally, the vulnerability enables unauthorized modification of system data through update, insert, or delete operations on accessible virtualization components. The compromise extends beyond simple service disruption to include unauthorized data access, allowing attackers to read sensitive information from the virtualization environment's data stores. This represents a significant threat to system integrity and confidentiality, particularly in enterprise environments where virtualization platforms serve as critical infrastructure components.
The operational impact of CVE-2021-2443 extends far beyond the immediate virtualization environment, potentially affecting multiple interconnected systems and applications. When exploited, this vulnerability can create cascading effects across the enterprise network, as virtualized environments often host multiple critical applications and services. The availability impact is particularly severe, with the potential for complete system downtime that can disrupt business operations. The confidentiality and integrity implications are equally concerning, as attackers can access and modify virtual machine configurations, guest operating system data, and hypervisor management interfaces. This vulnerability specifically affects Solaris x86 and Linux systems, making it particularly relevant for organizations maintaining heterogeneous IT infrastructures where these operating systems are prevalent.
Security practitioners should recognize this vulnerability as a significant risk within the context of the Common Weakness Enumeration framework, particularly relating to weaknesses in input validation and memory management. The CVSS 3.1 score of 7.3 indicates a high severity level that requires immediate attention, especially considering the low attack complexity and high privilege requirements. Organizations must implement immediate patch management procedures to upgrade to Oracle VM VirtualBox version 6.1.24 or later, as this represents the definitive mitigation against this specific vulnerability. Additional defensive measures should include network segmentation of virtualization infrastructure, enhanced monitoring of virtual machine access patterns, and regular vulnerability assessments targeting virtualization platforms. The vulnerability's impact classification as a complete denial of service combined with unauthorized data access and modification capabilities makes it particularly dangerous for environments where virtualization serves as a foundational technology for business operations and security controls.