LiveActive security incident?Get immediate response
CVE Record

CVE-2021-2287: Vulnerability in the Oracle VM VirtualBox product of Oracle Virtualization (component: Core).

Vulnerability in the Oracle VM VirtualBox product of Oracle Virtualization (component: Core). The supported version that is affected is Prior to 6.1.20. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows unauthenticated 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. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized access to critical data or complete access to all Oracle VM VirtualBox accessible data. CVSS 3.1 Base Score 7.1 (Confidentiality impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N).

HighCVSS 7.1Not KEV-listedUpdated
Discuss exposureBack to CVEs
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2021-2287 is a high-severity confidentiality issue in Oracle VM VirtualBox Core. Systems running VirtualBox before 6.1.20 may let a local attacker who can log on where VirtualBox runs access critical VirtualBox data. The sources do not show public active exploitation.

Executive priority

Prioritize remediation where VirtualBox runs on shared or sensitive systems. The issue is not described as remotely exploitable, but it can expose critical data once an attacker has local access to a vulnerable host.

Technical view

Oracle rates this VirtualBox Core vulnerability CVSS 7.1 with local attack vector, low complexity, no privileges, no user interaction, changed scope, and high confidentiality impact. Integrity and availability impacts are not indicated. The affected supported version range is prior to 6.1.20.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely on developer workstations, build hosts, lab systems, or servers running Oracle VM VirtualBox earlier than 6.1.20. The attacker needs local access to the infrastructure where VirtualBox executes, so internet-facing exposure is not implied by the cited sources.

Exploitation context

The CVE is not listed as KEV in the supplied bundle, and no cited source states active exploitation. The practical risk is local data exposure from systems where untrusted or lower-trust users can log in while vulnerable VirtualBox is installed.

Researcher notes

The public details provided do not name a CWE, root cause, proof of concept, or exploit technique. Treat this as a confidentiality-focused local VirtualBox Core issue and avoid assuming integrity, availability, or guest-escape behavior beyond the cited CVSS scope change.

Mitigation direction

  • Upgrade Oracle VM VirtualBox to 6.1.20 or later per Oracle CPU guidance.
  • For Gentoo systems, follow GLSA-202208-36 package update guidance.
  • Remove VirtualBox from hosts where it is not operationally required.
  • Restrict local logon access to hosts running VirtualBox.
  • Check vendor advisories for any platform-specific update instructions.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory hosts running Oracle VM VirtualBox.
  • Confirm installed VirtualBox versions are not prior to 6.1.20.
  • Identify shared workstations, build hosts, or lab hosts with local user access.
  • Review package manager records for Oracle or Gentoo security updates.
  • Document any exceptions and compensating local-access restrictions.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
4

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

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 · low confidence lookup

CVE-2021-2287 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

Open ATT&CK lookup
Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.1 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N

Official CVE source material

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.

1CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
3Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
7.1CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N2.54Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.1High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2021-2287Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
Oracle CorporationVM VirtualBoxunspecifiedListed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.