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CVE Record

CVE-2021-35542: 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 6.1.28. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows high 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 ability to cause a hang or frequently repeatable crash (complete DOS) of Oracle VM VirtualBox. CVSS 3.1 Base Score 4.4 (Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H).

MediumCVSS 4.4Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2021-35542 is a denial-of-service issue in Oracle VM VirtualBox Core before 6.1.28. An attacker already holding high privileges on the host infrastructure can make VirtualBox hang or crash repeatedly. This is primarily an availability risk, not a confidentiality or integrity issue based on the provided sources.

Executive priority

Treat as a scheduled remediation item unless VirtualBox supports critical operations or runs on shared administrative infrastructure. Business urgency rises where repeated VirtualBox crashes could disrupt build, lab, testing, or workstation virtualization workflows.

Technical view

Oracle rates this VirtualBox Core vulnerability CVSS 4.4: local attack vector, low complexity, high privileges required, no user interaction, unchanged scope, and high availability impact only. The affected version range is stated as prior to 6.1.28. The sources do not describe root cause details or exploit mechanics.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to systems running Oracle VM VirtualBox before 6.1.28, especially shared administration, build, lab, desktop virtualization, or testing hosts where high-privileged local access is granted to multiple users.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or cited active exploitation. Exploitation requires local access with high privileges on the infrastructure where VirtualBox runs, which materially reduces broad remote risk but still matters for shared or multi-admin environments.

Researcher notes

The public record provides CVSS and affected-version information but no CWE, root cause, or exploit detail. Analysis should stay focused on availability impact, local high-privilege prerequisites, and confirming whether VirtualBox versions before 6.1.28 remain present.

Mitigation direction

  • Upgrade Oracle VM VirtualBox to 6.1.28 or later where applicable.
  • Apply Gentoo or other vendor-provided VirtualBox security updates for packaged deployments.
  • Restrict high-privilege local access to hosts running VirtualBox.
  • Monitor VirtualBox availability until updates are completed.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory VirtualBox installations and record exact versions.
  • Flag versions earlier than 6.1.28 for remediation review.
  • Confirm whether untrusted users have high-privilege local access on VirtualBox hosts.
  • Review monitoring for recurring VirtualBox hangs or crashes.
  • Check Oracle and distribution advisories for package status.
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

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CVE-2021-35542 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
4.4 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

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

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
4.4CVSS 3.1MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H0.83.6Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

4.4Medium
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2021-35542Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

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

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.