CVE-2021-35542 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

This article provides an in-depth look at CVE-2021-35542, a vulnerability in Oracle VM VirtualBox that impacts versions prior to 6.1.28 and allows high privileged attackers to compromise the system.

Understanding CVE-2021-35542

CVE-2021-35542 is a vulnerability in the Oracle VM VirtualBox product of Oracle Virtualization (component: Core). The supported version affected by this vulnerability is prior to 6.1.28.

What is CVE-2021-35542?

Easily exploitable vulnerability allows high privileged attacker with logon to the infrastructure where Oracle VM VirtualBox executes to compromise Oracle VM VirtualBox. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized ability to cause a hang or frequently repeatable crash (complete DOS) of Oracle VM VirtualBox. CVSS 3.1 Base Score 4.4 (Availability impacts).

The Impact of CVE-2021-35542

This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 Base Score of 4.4 (Medium severity) with high availability impact. An attacker with logon to the system can compromise Oracle VM VirtualBox, leading to potential Denial of Service (DOS) attacks.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-35542

This section provides more detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows high privileged attacker to compromise Oracle VM VirtualBox, leading to potential DOS attacks.

Affected Systems and Versions

Oracle VM VirtualBox versions prior to 6.1.28 are affected by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

An attacker with logon to the infrastructure where Oracle VM VirtualBox executes can exploit this vulnerability.

Mitigation and Prevention

To protect your system from CVE-2021-35542, follow these measures:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Oracle VM VirtualBox to version 6.1.28 or higher.
Monitor system logs for any suspicious activities.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software to the latest version.
Restrict user privileges to minimize potential attack surfaces.

Patching and Updates

Keep track of security advisories from Oracle and apply patches promptly.