CVE-2019-2556 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A security flaw in the Core component of Oracle Virtualization within Oracle VM VirtualBox has been identified. This vulnerability affects versions prior to 5.2.24 and prior to 6.0.2, potentially allowing unauthorized access to critical data or complete control over accessible data.

Understanding CVE-2019-2556

This CVE pertains to a vulnerability in Oracle VM VirtualBox that could be exploited by a low privileged attacker to compromise the system.

What is CVE-2019-2556?

The vulnerability in Oracle VM VirtualBox allows attackers to gain unauthorized access to critical data or complete control over all accessible data within the system.

The Impact of CVE-2019-2556

The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.0 Base Score of 6.5, focusing on the impact on confidentiality.
Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to critical data or complete control over all accessible data within Oracle VM VirtualBox.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-2556

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Oracle VM VirtualBox allows a low privileged attacker with access to the infrastructure to compromise the system, potentially impacting additional products.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: VM VirtualBox
Vendor: Oracle Corporation
Affected Versions:
Versions less than 5.2.24
Versions less than 6.0.2

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by a low privileged attacker who has logged into the infrastructure where Oracle VM VirtualBox is running, enabling them to compromise the system.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2019-2556 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Oracle VM VirtualBox to versions 5.2.24 or 6.0.2 to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor and restrict access to the infrastructure where Oracle VM VirtualBox is deployed.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement strong authentication mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access.
Regularly update and patch Oracle VM VirtualBox to address security vulnerabilities.
Conduct security audits and assessments to identify and mitigate potential risks.
Educate users on best security practices to prevent exploitation of vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Regularly check for security updates and patches released by Oracle Corporation to address vulnerabilities like CVE-2019-2556.