CVE-2023-21889 in VM VirtualBox
Summary
by MITRE • 01/18/2023
Vulnerability in the Oracle VM VirtualBox product of Oracle Virtualization (component: Core). Supported versions that are affected are Prior to 6.1.42 and prior to 7.0.6. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows low 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 (scope change). Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized read access to a subset of Oracle VM VirtualBox accessible data. CVSS 3.1 Base Score 3.8 (Confidentiality impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:N/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/24/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-21889 represents a significant security weakness within Oracle VM VirtualBox's core component that affects versions prior to 6.1.42 and 7.0.6. This flaw resides in the virtualization infrastructure's foundational layer, making it particularly concerning for organizations relying on virtual machine environments. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers with minimal privileges can leverage this weakness, as the attack requires only a logon session to the host infrastructure where VirtualBox operates. This access vector significantly broadens the potential attack surface since many organizations maintain elevated privileges on their virtualization hosts. The CVSS 3.1 score of 3.8 reflects a low severity classification but demonstrates the vulnerability's potential for unauthorized data access, specifically targeting confidentiality impacts. The scope change aspect of this vulnerability means that while the primary target is Oracle VM VirtualBox, the attack can potentially affect additional products within the broader virtualization ecosystem.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient access controls within VirtualBox's core architecture, allowing an authenticated attacker to bypass normal security boundaries. This weakness operates at the privilege level where the virtualization software executes, meaning that an attacker who has already gained access to the host system can exploit this flaw to read sensitive data that should normally be restricted. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning because it operates within the virtualization layer itself, where multiple virtual machines and their associated data may be accessible through this single point of failure. Attackers can potentially access configuration files, guest operating system data, or other sensitive information that resides within VirtualBox's memory or storage systems. The low attack complexity and low privilege requirements make this vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where host systems may be compromised or where privilege escalation is possible through other means.
The operational implications of CVE-2023-21889 extend beyond simple data theft, as compromised virtualization environments can lead to broader security incidents throughout an organization's infrastructure. When attackers successfully exploit this vulnerability, they can access a subset of data that may include sensitive configuration information, user credentials, or application data stored within the virtualized environment. The scope change aspect indicates that this vulnerability can potentially affect multiple products within the Oracle virtualization suite, meaning that a successful attack against VirtualBox could have cascading effects on related systems. Organizations using VirtualBox for development, testing, or production environments face significant risk, particularly those that store sensitive data within virtual machines or rely on VirtualBox for critical business operations. The impact on confidentiality is particularly severe because virtualization platforms often serve as centralized storage points for multiple systems, making this vulnerability a potential gateway for more extensive data breaches.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-21889 primarily focus on immediate version upgrades to Oracle VM VirtualBox 6.1.42 or 7.0.6, which contain the necessary patches to address the access control weakness. Organizations should prioritize updating their VirtualBox installations across all host systems, particularly those that serve as primary virtualization platforms. Additionally, implementing additional access controls and monitoring on host systems can help detect unauthorized access attempts that might target this vulnerability. Network segmentation and privilege separation measures should be strengthened to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. Security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of their virtualization environments to identify systems running vulnerable versions of VirtualBox and prioritize remediation efforts accordingly. The vulnerability's classification under CWE 284 (Improper Access Control) highlights the fundamental security flaw in the access control mechanisms, while potential ATT&CK framework mappings may include techniques related to privilege escalation and credential access through virtualization platforms. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should include checks for VirtualBox versions to prevent exploitation of this and similar vulnerabilities in the virtualization infrastructure.