Analyst readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This VirtualBox flaw can let a logged-in, low-privileged local user take over Oracle VM VirtualBox. The business risk is highest on shared workstations, build systems, lab hosts, or developer machines where untrusted users can log in and run VirtualBox.
Executive priority
Treat as high priority where VirtualBox is used on shared or developer infrastructure. The vulnerability requires local access, but successful exploitation can fully compromise VirtualBox and may affect other products according to Oracle.
Technical view
CVE-2019-2859 affects Oracle VM VirtualBox Core before 5.2.32 and before 6.0.10. Oracle rates it CVSS 3.0 8.8 with local attack vector, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, changed scope, and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to systems running affected VirtualBox versions where an attacker already has local logon access. Internet-facing exposure is not indicated by the provided sources, but shared local access environments increase practical risk.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or cited evidence of active exploitation. The vulnerability is described as easily exploitable by a low-privileged attacker with logon to the infrastructure where VirtualBox executes.
Researcher notes
The provided sources do not include CWE, root cause, proof-of-concept status, or detailed exploit mechanics. Focus validation on version mapping, local privilege boundaries, package advisory coverage, and whether VirtualBox runs on multi-user systems.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade VirtualBox to 5.2.32, 6.0.10, or later supported vendor packages.
- Apply relevant Oracle, openSUSE, or Gentoo security updates for managed systems.
- Restrict local logon access on hosts running VirtualBox.
- Prioritize shared workstations, CI hosts, lab systems, and developer endpoints.
- Check current Oracle and distribution guidance for any additional mitigations.
Validation and detection
- Inventory hosts running Oracle VM VirtualBox.
- Check for VirtualBox versions earlier than 5.2.32 or 6.0.10.
- Confirm package versions against Oracle, openSUSE, or Gentoo advisories.
- Identify hosts allowing untrusted or shared local user logons.
- Verify patched systems still run expected VM workloads.
Public sources used
Based on public source material and reviewed before publication.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CVE-2019-2859 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Unknown
- CVSS
- Not scored
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS and timeline data
No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujul2019-5072835.htmlCVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- openSUSE-SU-2019:1814CVE reference · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_SUSE
- GLSA-202101-09CVE reference · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_GENTOO
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.