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CVE Record

CVE-2026-21988: Vulnerability in the Oracle VM VirtualBox product of Oracle Virtualization (component: Core).

Vulnerability in the Oracle VM VirtualBox product of Oracle Virtualization (component: Core). Supported versions that are affected are 7.1.14 and 7.2.4. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows high privileged 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 (scope change). Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in takeover of Oracle VM VirtualBox. CVSS 3.1 Base Score 8.2 (Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H).

HighCVSS 8.2Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2026-21988 affects Oracle VM VirtualBox Core in versions 7.1.14 and 7.2.4. An attacker who already has high-privileged logon access where VirtualBox runs could take over VirtualBox. This is not a remote unauthenticated issue, but it can have serious confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.

Executive priority

Treat as high priority where VirtualBox is used by administrators, developers, or automation systems. The attacker must already be highly privileged, so this is not the first breach path, but it could expand impact after access is obtained.

Technical view

Oracle rates this CVSS 8.2: AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H. The vulnerability is local, low-complexity, requires high privileges, and needs no user interaction. Oracle notes scope change, meaning compromise of VirtualBox may significantly impact additional products. The affected component is Core.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to environments running Oracle VM VirtualBox 7.1.14 or 7.2.4, especially shared admin workstations, virtualization hosts, labs, and CI systems. Risk is highest where multiple privileged users can log on to systems running VirtualBox.

Exploitation context

The provided sources do not show active exploitation, and this CVE is not listed as KEV in the source bundle. Exploitation requires high-privileged logon access to the infrastructure where VirtualBox executes, reducing internet-scale risk but increasing concern after credential compromise or insider misuse.

Researcher notes

Public details are limited to Oracle’s advisory-level description. No CWE, proof of exploitation, or technical root cause is provided in the source bundle. Avoid assuming hypervisor escape mechanics beyond Oracle’s stated scope-change and takeover language.

Mitigation direction

  • Identify systems running Oracle VM VirtualBox 7.1.14 or 7.2.4.
  • Review Oracle’s January 2026 CPU advisory for official remediation guidance.
  • Apply vendor-provided updates or workarounds when available from Oracle.
  • Restrict high-privileged logon access to VirtualBox hosts.
  • Prioritize shared or production-adjacent virtualization environments.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory installed VirtualBox versions across endpoints and hosts.
  • Confirm whether version 7.1.14 or 7.2.4 is present.
  • Verify remediation status against Oracle’s advisory.
  • Review privileged user access to affected VirtualBox systems.
  • Monitor vendor advisories for updated affected-version or fix details.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
3

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-2026-21988 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
8.2 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/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
2Source 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
8.2CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H1.56Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

8.2High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2026-21988Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/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 CorporationOracle VM VirtualBox7.1.14, 7.2.4Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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