CVE-2008-3431
The VBoxDrvNtDeviceControl function in VBoxDrv.sys in Sun xVM VirtualBox before 1.6.4 uses the...
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.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Local
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- Low
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
NVD Score used
8.8
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.
- Record
CVE-2008-3431- CVSS 3.1
- 8.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H - CVSS 2.0
- 7.2 High
AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C - Updated
- 2026-11-02
CVE List
8.8
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.
- Record
CVE-2008-3431- CVSS 3.1
- 8.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2008-3417
8.8
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.
- Record
EUVD-2008-3417- CVSS 3.1
- 8.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-pxp3-358m-6vfm
8.8
The VBoxDrvNtDeviceControl function in VBoxDrv.sys in Sun xVM VirtualBox before 1.6.4 uses the...
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.
- Record
GHSA-pxp3-358m-6vfm- CVSS 3.1
- 8.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
CISA KEV No score
Oracle VirtualBox Insufficient Input Validation Vulnerability
An input validation vulnerability exists in the VBoxDrv.sys driver of Sun xVM VirtualBox which allows attackers to locally execute arbitrary code.
- Record
CVE-2008-3431- Weakness
- CWE-264
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Public exploits
Links only. Every CVE stores no exploit code.
| Source | Link | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Exploit-DB | Sun xVM VirtualBox < 1.6.4 - Privilege Escalation (PoC) | 2008-08-10 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| exploitation | ||
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, Exploit-DB, GitHub Advisories, CISA KEV, NVD |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2008-3431 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 8.8) in Oracle Virtualbox, published August 5, 2008. CISA lists it as known to be exploited, since March 3, 2022. EUVD reports exploitation since March 3, 2022. Public exploit code exists. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 6.88%, the 94th percentile. No source names a fixed version.
References
securityfocus.com/bid/30481
securityreason.com/securityalert/4107
exploit-db.com/exploits/6218
sunsolve.sun.com/search/document.do?assetkey=1-66-240095-1
secunia.com/advisories/31361
coresecurity.com/content/virtualbox-privilege-escalation-vulnerability
Show 8 moreShow less
exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/44202
vupen.com/english/advisories/2008/2293
virtualbox.org/wiki/Changelog
securitytracker.com/id?1020625
securityfocus.com/archive/1/495095/100/0/threaded
cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2008-3431
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-3431
github.com/advisories/GHSA-pxp3-358m-6vfm