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Findings

CVE-2008-3431

Oracle VirtualBox Insufficient Input Validation Vulnerability

Published Aug 5, 2008 · updated Jun 16, 2026 · oracle virtualbox

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.

Timeline

Detection, updates, and resolution for this record.

  1. Aug 5, 2008 · Catalog

    Detected

    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.

  2. Mar 3, 2022 · CISA KEV

    Known exploited

    Apply updates per vendor instructions.

  3. Mar 24, 2022 · CISA KEV

    Remediation due

    Apply updates per vendor instructions.

  4. Jun 16, 2026 · Catalog

    Updated

    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.

Required action

Apply updates per vendor instructions.

CISA due date Mar 24, 2022

Affected

  • cpe oracle/virtualboxversion unspecified
  • vendor Oracle VirtualBoxversion unspecified

Sources

  • CISA KEVCVE-2008-3431

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

    cisa.gov
  • CVE.orgCVE-2008-3431

    Official CVE identifier

    cve.org
  • FIRST EPSSCVE-2008-3431

    30-day exploitation probability 6.9%

    first.org
  • Exploit Database6218

    Public archive entry. The exploit body is not stored here.

    exploit-db.com
  • NIST NVDCVE-2008-3431

    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 \\.\VBo

    nvd.nist.gov

References