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CVE Record

CVE-2021-2291: 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. Difficult to exploit vulnerability allows low 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 access to critical data or complete access to all Oracle VM VirtualBox accessible data. CVSS 3.1 Base Score 4.7 (Confidentiality impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N).

MediumCVSS 4.7Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2021-2291 is an Oracle VM VirtualBox Core vulnerability affecting versions before 6.1.20. A low-privileged user already logged onto the system running VirtualBox could, under difficult conditions, access critical VirtualBox-readable data. The main business risk is data exposure, not service outage or data tampering.

Executive priority

Treat this as a scheduled remediation item unless VirtualBox hosts contain sensitive data or support many local users. Prioritize developer, build, and lab systems where local access is broader. No active exploitation is evidenced in the provided sources.

Technical view

The CVSS 3.1 vector is AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N, scoring 4.7. The vulnerability is local, requires low privileges, has high attack complexity, and impacts confidentiality only. Oracle identifies the affected supported version range as prior to 6.1.20.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to environments running Oracle VM VirtualBox before 6.1.20, especially developer workstations, test labs, or build systems where untrusted or low-privileged users can log in. The source bundle does not identify affected operating systems beyond the VirtualBox product.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or other evidence of active exploitation. Exploitation requires local access, low privileges, and high complexity, which reduces urgency compared with remotely exploitable flaws. Confidentiality impact remains significant if sensitive VM-accessible data is present.

Researcher notes

The bundle does not include CWE mapping, proof-of-concept details, or full root-cause information. Oracle lists the component as Core and ZDI is referenced, but only confidentiality impact and local authenticated prerequisites are supported here. Avoid assuming guest escape or remote exploitation without additional vendor evidence.

Mitigation direction

  • Upgrade Oracle VM VirtualBox to 6.1.20 or later.
  • Apply fixed distribution packages where VirtualBox is managed by the OS vendor.
  • Restrict local logon access on systems running VirtualBox.
  • Review Oracle CPU and Gentoo guidance for environment-specific instructions.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory VirtualBox installations and confirm installed versions.
  • Flag any VirtualBox instance older than 6.1.20.
  • Check whether low-privileged users can log onto affected hosts.
  • Confirm vendor or distribution patches are installed.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
5

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

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CVE-2021-2291 mapping review

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

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
4.7 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/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
4Source 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
4.7CVSS 3.1MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N13.6Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

4.7Medium
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2021-2291Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/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.