CVE-2021-2281 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability has been identified in the Oracle VM VirtualBox product, affecting versions prior to 6.1.20. The vulnerability allows an unauthenticated attacker to compromise the system, potentially leading to unauthorized access to critical data. Here's what you need to know about CVE-2021-2281.

Understanding CVE-2021-2281

CVE-2021-2281 is a vulnerability in Oracle VM VirtualBox that poses a high integrity impact risk. It allows an attacker to compromise the system without authentication, potentially resulting in unauthorized data access or modification.

What is CVE-2021-2281?

The vulnerability in Oracle VM VirtualBox allows an unauthenticated attacker with logon access to compromise the system. This can lead to unauthorized access, modification, or deletion of critical data within Oracle VM VirtualBox.

The Impact of CVE-2021-2281

The vulnerability can significantly impact the affected system, potentially allowing unauthorized users to create, delete, or modify critical data or all accessible data within Oracle VM VirtualBox. With a CVSS 3.1 Base Score of 7.1, the integrity of the system is at high risk.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-2281

Here are the technical details of the CVE-2021-2281 vulnerability:

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Oracle VM VirtualBox allows an unauthenticated attacker to compromise the system, leading to potential unauthorized access to critical data.

Affected Systems and Versions

VM VirtualBox versions prior to 6.1.20 are affected by this vulnerability, putting systems at risk of unauthorized access and data modification.

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability is easily exploitable, requiring only logon access to the infrastructure where Oracle VM VirtualBox executes.

Mitigation and Prevention

To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2021-2281, consider the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Oracle VM VirtualBox to version 6.1.20 or above.
Restrict access to critical systems and data.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor for security updates and apply patches promptly.
Implement strong authentication mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access.

Patching and Updates

Regularly check for security advisories from Oracle and apply updates as soon as they are released to address known vulnerabilities.