CVE-2026-71134 in VM VirtualBox
Summary
by MITRE • 08/19/2026
Vulnerability in the Oracle VM VirtualBox product of Oracle Virtualization (component: Core). The supported version that is affected is 7.2.14. 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 (scope change). Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized update, insert or delete access to some of Oracle VM VirtualBox accessible data as well as unauthorized read access to a subset of Oracle VM VirtualBox accessible data and unauthorized ability to cause a partial denial of service (partial DOS) of Oracle VM VirtualBox. CVSS 3.1 Base Score 5.7 (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:L).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/19/2026
The identified vulnerability resides within the core component of Oracle VM VirtualBox version 7.2.14, representing a significant security flaw in one of the most widely deployed virtualization platforms globally. This issue is classified as an easily exploitable vulnerability that requires high privileged access to the underlying infrastructure where the hypervisor executes. The attacker must possess valid logon credentials and sufficient privileges on the host system to initiate the attack vector. Despite requiring local authentication, the severity of the flaw lies in its potential for scope change, meaning that compromising Oracle VM VirtualBox can lead to broader impacts beyond the virtualization software itself, potentially affecting other products or services running within the same environment or relying on the integrity of the hypervisor layer.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability allows an authenticated attacker with high privileges to manipulate data accessible by Oracle VM VirtualBox in unauthorized ways. Specifically, the flaw enables unauthorized updates, inserts, or deletions of virtual machine configuration files and state data. This capability directly compromises the integrity of the virtualized environment, allowing an adversary to alter critical settings that dictate how virtual machines operate. Furthermore, the vulnerability grants unauthorized read access to a subset of accessible data within the VirtualBox ecosystem. This could include sensitive information stored in VM snapshots, memory dumps, or configuration files that may contain credentials, network configurations, or other proprietary data essential for the operation of guest operating systems and their applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond mere data exposure or modification. Successful exploitation can result in a partial denial of service against Oracle VM VirtualBox itself. This means an attacker could degrade the performance or availability of the hypervisor, potentially causing virtual machines to crash, become unresponsive, or fail to start correctly. In enterprise environments where high availability is critical, such disruptions can lead to significant downtime and operational inefficiencies. The combination of unauthorized data access, modification capabilities, and service disruption creates a multifaceted threat that undermines both the confidentiality and integrity pillars of information security, alongside affecting availability.
In terms of industry standard classifications, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-269 Improper Privilege Management if the exploitation relies on abusing existing high privileges to perform unauthorized actions within the application context. It also relates closely to CWE-732 Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource, as it involves unauthorized access and modification of system files or data structures managed by VirtualBox. From an offensive security standpoint, this falls under MITRE ATT&CK techniques related to Local Privilege Escalation if the initial high privilege was gained through prior compromise, and Data Manipulation via file system modifications. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 5.7 reflects a medium severity rating, driven by the local attack vector, low complexity, and required privileges, balanced against the significant impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability due to the scope change characteristic.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve ensuring that Oracle VM VirtualBox is updated to the latest patched version released by Oracle. Organizations should prioritize applying these updates across all infrastructure where VirtualBox 7.2.14 or affected versions are deployed. Additionally, strict access control policies must be enforced on host systems running virtualization software. Principle of least privilege dictates that administrative accounts used for managing VMs should not share credentials with general user accounts to limit the blast radius in case of a compromise. Network segmentation can also help isolate critical virtualized workloads from less secure parts of the infrastructure, reducing the potential impact if an attacker gains access to the host system. Regular auditing of file permissions and monitoring for unusual modifications to VirtualBox configuration files can aid in early detection of exploitation attempts.