📄 Description (English)
Vulnerability in the Oracle VM VirtualBox product of Oracle Virtualization (component: Core). Supported versions that are affected are 7.1.14 and 7.2.4. 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 takeover of Oracle VM VirtualBox. CVSS 3.1 Base Score 8.2 (Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H).
🤖 AI Executive Summary
Oracle VM VirtualBox versions 7.1.14 and 7.2.4 contain a critical privilege escalation vulnerability (CVSS 8.2) that allows high-privileged local attackers to achieve complete system compromise with scope change affecting host systems. The vulnerability requires local access but poses significant risk to virtualized infrastructure commonly used in Saudi enterprises for development, testing, and isolated workloads. Immediate patching is essential as this affects the hypervisor layer with potential for lateral movement across virtual environments.
📄 Description (Arabic)
🤖 AI Intelligence Analysis Analyzed: Apr 25, 2026 18:30
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Impact Assessment
High impact on Saudi financial institutions (SAMA-regulated banks) using VirtualBox for development and testing environments, government agencies (NCA, CITC) relying on virtualized infrastructure, healthcare organizations (MOH) with virtual lab systems, and energy sector (ARAMCO, SEC) utilizing virtualization for operational technology isolation. The scope change means compromised VirtualBox could impact host systems and connected networks. Risk is elevated in organizations with shared virtualization infrastructure where multiple departments or business units operate VMs on single hosts.
🏢 Affected Saudi Sectors
Banking and Financial Services
Government and Public Administration
Healthcare
Energy and Utilities
Telecommunications
Education and Research
Manufacturing
Retail and E-commerce
🎯 MITRE ATT&CK Techniques
T1548 - Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism
T1548.004 - Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism: Elevated Execution with Prompt
T1134 - Access Token Manipulation
T1547 - Boot or Logon Autostart Execution
T1547.001 - Boot or Logon Autostart Execution: Registry Run Keys / Startup Folder
T1547.014 - Boot or Logon Autostart Execution: Active Setup
T1543 - Create or Modify System Process
T1543.003 - Create or Modify System Process: Windows Service
T1112 - Modify Registry
T1542 - Pre-OS Boot
T1542.005 - Pre-OS Boot: Bootkit
T1611 - Escape to Host
T1564 - Hide Artifacts
T1564.001 - Hide Artifacts: Hidden Files and Directories
T1562 - Impair Defenses
T1562.001 - Impair Defenses: Disable or Modify Tools
T1070 - Indicator Removal
T1070.001 - Indicator Removal: Clear Windows Event Logs
⚖️ Saudi Risk Score (AI)
7.8
/ 10.0
🔧 Remediation Steps (English)
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS:
1. Identify all systems running Oracle VM VirtualBox 7.1.14 or 7.2.4 using asset inventory and vulnerability scanning tools
2. Restrict local access to VirtualBox hosts to only authorized administrators; review and enforce principle of least privilege
3. Isolate affected VirtualBox hosts from critical networks if patching cannot be completed within 48 hours
4. Monitor for suspicious local process execution and privilege escalation attempts on VirtualBox hosts
PATCHING GUIDANCE:
1. Download latest Oracle VM VirtualBox patches (7.1.x and 7.2.x versions) from Oracle's official security portal
2. Test patches in non-production environment first, particularly for hosts running critical VMs
3. Schedule maintenance windows to apply patches with minimal VM downtime
4. Verify patch application by checking version numbers post-update
COMPENSATING CONTROLS (if immediate patching not possible):
1. Implement strict host-based access controls limiting local login to VirtualBox hosts
2. Enable and monitor host-level audit logging for privilege escalation attempts
3. Disable unnecessary local user accounts on VirtualBox hosts
4. Implement network segmentation isolating VirtualBox infrastructure from critical systems
5. Deploy host-based intrusion detection on VirtualBox systems
DETECTION RULES:
1. Monitor for unexpected privilege escalation events on VirtualBox host systems
2. Alert on unusual process execution from VirtualBox core components
3. Track failed and successful local authentication attempts to VirtualBox hosts
4. Monitor for VM escape attempts or unusual inter-VM communication patterns
5. Log all administrative access to VirtualBox management interfaces
🔧 خطوات المعالجة (العربية)
الإجراءات الفورية:
1. تحديد جميع الأنظمة التي تقوم بتشغيل Oracle VM VirtualBox 7.1.14 أو 7.2.4 باستخدام أدوات جرد الأصول والمسح الضوئي للثغرات
2. تقييد الوصول المحلي إلى مضيفي VirtualBox للمسؤولين المصرح لهم فقط؛ مراجعة وفرض مبدأ أقل امتياز
3. عزل مضيفي VirtualBox المتأثرين عن الشبكات الحرجة إذا لم يكن التصحيح ممكناً خلال 48 ساعة
4. مراقبة محاولات تنفيذ العمليات المحلية المريبة وتصعيد الامتيازات على مضيفي VirtualBox
إرشادات التصحيح:
1. تحميل أحدث تصحيحات Oracle VM VirtualBox (إصدارات 7.1.x و 7.2.x) من بوابة أمان Oracle الرسمية
2. اختبار التصحيحات في بيئة غير الإنتاج أولاً، خاصة للمضيفين الذين يقومون بتشغيل VMs حرجة
3. جدولة نوافذ الصيانة لتطبيق التصحيحات مع تقليل وقت توقف VM
4. التحقق من تطبيق التصحيح بفحص أرقام الإصدار بعد التحديث
الضوابط البديلة (إذا لم يكن التصحيح الفوري ممكناً):
1. تنفيذ ضوابط وصول صارمة على مستوى المضيف تقيد تسجيل الدخول المحلي إلى مضيفي VirtualBox
2. تفعيل ومراقبة تسجيل التدقيق على مستوى المضيف لمحاولات تصعيد الامتيازات
3. تعطيل حسابات المستخدمين المحلية غير الضرورية على مضيفي VirtualBox
4. تنفيذ تقسيم الشبكة لعزل بنية VirtualBox التحتية عن الأنظمة الحرجة
5. نشر كشف الاختراق على مستوى المضيف على أنظمة VirtualBox
قواعد الكشف:
1. مراقبة أحداث تصعيد الامتيازات غير المتوقعة على أنظمة مضيف VirtualBox
2. التنبيه على تنفيذ العمليات غير المعتادة من مكونات VirtualBox الأساسية
3. تتبع محاولات المصادقة المحلية الفاشلة والناجحة لمضيفي VirtualBox
4. مراقبة محاولات الهروب من VM أو أنماط الاتصال غير المعتادة بين VMs
5. تسجيل جميع الوصول الإداري إلى واجهات إدارة VirtualBox
📋 Regulatory Compliance Mapping
🟢 NCA ECC 2024
A.5.1.1 - Information security policies and procedures
A.6.1.1 - Screening and background checks for personnel
A.6.2.1 - User registration and de-registration
A.7.1.1 - Physical entry controls
A.8.1.1 - User endpoint devices
A.8.2.1 - Privileged access rights
A.8.3.1 - Restriction of access to information
A.9.1.1 - Access control policy
A.9.2.1 - User access management
A.9.4.1 - Access control to cryptographic keys
A.10.1.1 - Cryptography policy and procedures
A.12.4.1 - Event logging
A.12.4.3 - Administrator and operator logs
A.13.1.1 - Information transfer policies and procedures
A.14.1.1 - Information security incident procedures
🔵 SAMA CSF
Governance - Policy and Risk Management
Governance - Compliance and Audit
Governance - Third Party Management
Protective - Access Control
Protective - Cryptography
Protective - Data Protection
Protective - System Security
Protective - Secure Development
Protective - Endpoint Protection
Protective - Network Security
Protective - Physical and Environmental Security
Detective - Monitoring and Logging
Detective - Vulnerability Management
Responsive - Incident Management
🟡 ISO 27001:2022
5.1 - Policies for information security
5.3 - Segregation of duties
6.1 - Screening
6.2 - Terms and conditions of employment
6.5 - Access rights review
6.6 - Information security responsibilities
6.7 - Competence
7.1 - General
7.2 - Information security roles and responsibilities
8.1 - User endpoint devices
8.2 - Privileged access rights
8.3 - Information access restriction
8.4 - Access to cryptographic keys
9.1 - Access control policy
9.2 - User access management
9.4 - Access control for cryptographic keys
10.1 - Cryptography policy
12.4 - Event logging
12.4.1 - Event log generation
12.4.3 - Administrator and operator logs
13.1 - Information transfer policies and procedures
14.1 - Information security incident procedures
🔗 References & Sources 1
📦 Affected Products / CPE 2 entries
oracle:vm_virtualbox:7.1.14
oracle:vm_virtualbox:7.2.4