CVE-2022-39425
Published: 18 October 2022
Summary
CVE-2022-39425 is a high-severity Missing Authentication for Critical Function (CWE-306) vulnerability in Oracle Vm Virtualbox. Its CVSS base score is 8.1 (High).
Operationally, ranked in the top 7.6% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
Deeper analysis
Vulnerability CVE-2022-39425 resides in the Core component of Oracle VM VirtualBox and affects all supported versions prior to 6.1.40. The flaw is rated 8.1 under CVSS 3.1 with the vector AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, indicating that a network-accessible attack path exists despite high complexity and the absence of required credentials or user interaction.
An unauthenticated attacker who can reach the VirtualBox instance over VRDP can leverage the weakness to achieve a full takeover of the product, resulting in loss of confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The associated CWEs reference missing authentication for critical functionality, consistent with the described remote compromise scenario.
Oracle's October 2022 Critical Patch Update and the corresponding Gentoo GLSA-202212-03 both direct users to upgrade to VirtualBox 6.1.40 or later to eliminate the exposure. The EPSS score has remained flat at 0.0829 with no material rise since publication.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2022-41870
Vulnerability details
Vulnerability in the Oracle VM VirtualBox product of Oracle Virtualization (component: Core). Supported versions that are affected are Prior to 6.1.40. Difficult to exploit vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via VRDP to compromise Oracle VM VirtualBox. Successful attacks…
more
of this vulnerability can result in takeover of Oracle VM VirtualBox. CVSS 3.1 Base Score 8.1 (Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
No named actor attribution yet. ATT&CK technique mapping in progress for this CVE.
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Likely Mitigating Controls AI
Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.
Requires established identification and authentication to unlock, mitigating missing authentication for continued system access.
Requiring identification and rationale for actions allowed without authentication ensures critical functions are not left unprotected by forcing review of authentication requirements.
Authorizing mobile device connections to organizational systems ensures authentication is performed for this critical access function.
Guarantees critical functions are protected by mandatory invocation of the access control mechanism.
Auditing sessions makes it possible to detect access to critical functions without required authentication.
The assessment process confirms authentication is present and effective for critical functions, preventing exploitation from missing authentication.
Certification assesses that critical functions have required authentication controls in place.
Disabling non-essential functions and services eliminates the need to secure them, reducing exposure from missing authentication on unnecessary components.