CVE-2008-3431

KEVOracle VirtualBox Insufficient Input Validation Vulnerability

Description

An input validation vulnerability exists in the VBoxDrv.sys driver of Sun xVM VirtualBox which allows attackers to locally execute arbitrary code.

The VBoxDrvNtDeviceControl function in VBoxDrv.sys in Sun xVM VirtualBox before 1.6.4 uses the METHOD_NEITHER communication method for IOCTLs and does not properly validate a buffer associated with the Irp object, which allows local users to gain privileges by opening the \\.\VBoxDrv device and calling DeviceIoControl to send a crafted kernel address.

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

PublishedAug 5, 2008

Last modifiedJun 16, 2026

Added to KEVMar 3, 2022

Remediation dueMar 24, 2022

References

secunia.com/advisories/31361Broken LinkVendor Advisory
securityreason.com/securityalert/4107Broken Link
securitytracker.com/id?1020625Broken LinkThird Party Advisory
sunsolve.sun.com/search/document.do?assetkey=1-66-240095-1Broken Link
virtualbox.org/wiki/ChangelogProduct
coresecurity.com/content/virtualbox-privilege-escalation-vulnerabilityExploitThird Party Advisory
securityfocus.com/archive/1/495095/100/0/threadedBroken LinkThird Party Advisory
securityfocus.com/bid/30481Broken LinkExploit
vupen.com/english/advisories/2008/2293Broken Link
exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/44202Third Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
exploit-db.com/exploits/6218ExploitThird Party Advisory
cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2008-3431US Government Resource

0 recent articles mention this CVE

Risk assessment · High

Actively exploited. Patch immediately.

Exploitation: Confirmed in the wild (CISA KEV)
Federal remediation deadline: Overdue by 1678 days
CVSS: 8.8 HIGH
EPSS (30-day exploit probability): 6.9% · top 6% of all CVEs
Weakness: NVD-CWE-noinfo

Recommended actions

1.Apply updates per vendor instructions.
2.Treat as emergency change: patch or isolate internet-facing instances first.
3.Hunt for compromise: review logs for the disclosure window, not just from the patch date.

Assessment is derived automatically from the live signals above; verify against your own asset inventory.