CVE-2021-2443:Vulnerability in Oracle VM VirtualBox Core component allows high privileged attackers to cause denial of service and gain unauthorized access to data.

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CVE-2021-2443 affects Oracle VM VirtualBox versions prior to 6.1.24. This easily exploitable vulnerability allows attackers with high privileges and logon access to the infrastructure where VirtualBox runs to compromise the system. Successful exploitation can result in denial of service conditions (system hang or repeatable crashes), unauthorized data modification, and unauthorized read access to some VirtualBox data. The vulnerability only affects Solaris x86 and Linux systems. It has a CVSS 3.1 Base Score of 7.3, indicating substantial security impact across confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Overview

This vulnerability in Oracle VM VirtualBox's Core component presents a significant security risk for virtualization environments running on Linux and Solaris x86 platforms. The issue allows authenticated attackers with high privileges to cause system crashes or hangs, resulting in complete denial of service. Additionally, attackers can gain unauthorized access to read certain data and make unauthorized modifications to VirtualBox-accessible data. The attack requires local access but can have cascading effects on other products that interact with VirtualBox. With a CVSS score of 7.3, this is considered a high-severity vulnerability that requires prompt attention from system administrators.

Remediation

  1. Update Oracle VM VirtualBox to version 6.1.24 or later immediately.
  2. Implement proper access controls to restrict who can log into systems where VirtualBox is installed.
  3. Follow the principle of least privilege for all accounts that have access to VirtualBox.
  4. Monitor systems for unusual activity or crashes that might indicate exploitation attempts.
  5. Consider implementing additional security measures such as network segmentation to isolate virtualization infrastructure.
  6. Review Oracle's security advisory for any additional mitigation steps specific to your environment.
  7. If immediate patching is not possible, consider temporarily restricting access to affected systems until updates can be applied.

References

  1. Oracle Critical Patch Update Advisory - July 2021 https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujul2021.html

  2. Gentoo Linux Security Advisory 202208-36 https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202208-36

  3. CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:H (Local access, Low complexity, High privileges required, No user interaction, Security scope is changed, Low confidentiality impact, Low integrity impact, High availability impact)

Industry ExposureMost to least
This section illustrates the prevalence of a specific Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) across various industries based on customer reports. The ranking displays industries from the most to least affected by this particular vulnerability, offering valuable insight into where this CVE has been most frequently observed. This information can help organizations within these sectors prioritize their security efforts, understand their relative risk exposure compared to their peers, and focus remediation strategies where they are most needed. By understanding the industry-specific impact, organizations can make more informed decisions regarding patching, resource allocation, and overall risk management related to this CVE.

  1. Manufacturing
    Manufacturing
  2. Educational Services
    Educational Services
  3. Health Care & Social Assistance
    Health Care & Social Assistance
  4. Public Administration
    Public Administration
  5. Finance and Insurance
    Finance and Insurance
  6. Management of Companies & Enterprises
    Management of Companies & Enterprises
  7. Transportation & Warehousing
    Transportation & Warehousing
  8. Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services
    Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services
  9. Arts, Entertainment & Recreation
    Arts, Entertainment & Recreation
  10. Retail Trade
    Retail Trade
  11. Mining
    Mining
  12. Other Services (except Public Administration)
    Other Services (except Public Administration)
  13. Utilities
    Utilities
  14. Wholesale Trade
    Wholesale Trade
  15. Accommodation & Food Services
    Accommodation & Food Services
  16. Administrative, Support, Waste Management & Remediation Services
    Administrative, Support, Waste Management & Remediation Services
  17. Agriculture, Forestry Fishing & Hunting
    Agriculture, Forestry Fishing & Hunting
  18. Construction
    Construction
  19. Information
    Information
  20. Real Estate Rental & Leasing
    Real Estate Rental & Leasing

Focus on What Matters

  1. See Everything.
  2. Identify True Risk.
  3. Proactively Mitigate Threats.

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