Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This flaw affects Oracle VM VirtualBox before 6.1.28 on non-Windows systems. A low-privileged user who can log on to the host infrastructure could compromise VirtualBox and potentially take it over. The business risk is highest where VirtualBox runs on shared developer, lab, or operational hosts.
Executive priority
Treat as high priority on shared non-Windows virtualization hosts. It is not remotely exploitable from the network per the supplied vector, but local compromise could affect sensitive virtualized workloads.
Technical view
CVE-2021-35538 is a Core component vulnerability in Oracle VM VirtualBox, rated CVSS 7.8. The vector is local, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, unchanged scope, with high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact. Oracle states Windows systems are not affected.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to non-Windows systems running Oracle VM VirtualBox versions prior to 6.1.28 where untrusted or lower-privileged users can log on locally.
Exploitation context
The provided sources do not show KEV listing or active exploitation. Exploitation requires local logon to infrastructure where VirtualBox executes, then could result in takeover of VirtualBox.
Researcher notes
The source bundle does not provide CWE, root-cause details, exploit mechanics, or affected non-Windows platform breakdown. Validation should focus on version, host operating system, and whether lower-privileged users can access the VirtualBox host.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade Oracle VM VirtualBox to 6.1.28 or later.
- Apply relevant vendor or distribution updates, including Gentoo GLSA guidance where applicable.
- Restrict local logon access to VirtualBox hosts.
- Remove or isolate obsolete VirtualBox installations on shared hosts.
Validation and detection
- Inventory VirtualBox versions across non-Windows hosts.
- Confirm no affected host runs a version prior to 6.1.28.
- Verify local user access is limited to trusted accounts.
- Check vendor and distribution advisories for applied security updates.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
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-2021-35538 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
- High
- CVSS
- 7.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
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 vector scores
1 official scoreWe 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.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.8HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuoct2021.htmlCVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- GLSA-202208-36CVE 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.