CVE-2026-35249 Overview
CVE-2026-35249 is an improper access control vulnerability (CWE-284) in the Oracle VM VirtualBox product of Oracle Virtualization, specifically affecting the Core component. This vulnerability allows a high-privileged attacker with local access to the infrastructure where Oracle VM VirtualBox executes to compromise the application and potentially impact additional products beyond VirtualBox itself due to a scope change condition.
Critical Impact
While requiring high privileges, successful exploitation enables unauthorized data modification with the ability to update, insert, or delete data accessible to Oracle VM VirtualBox, with potential impact on additional products due to scope change.
Affected Products
- Oracle VM VirtualBox version 7.2.6
- Oracle Virtualization (Core component)
- Systems running VirtualBox with high-privileged attacker access
Discovery Timeline
- April 21, 2026 - CVE-2026-35249 published to NVD
- April 23, 2026 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-35249
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability is classified as an Improper Access Control issue (CWE-284) within the Core component of Oracle VM VirtualBox. The flaw allows an attacker who has already obtained high-level privileges and local access to the system running VirtualBox to bypass intended access restrictions. What makes this vulnerability particularly notable is the scope change characteristic, meaning that while the vulnerability exists within VirtualBox, successful exploitation can affect resources and products outside of the vulnerable component's security scope.
The vulnerability is easily exploitable once the attacker has achieved the prerequisite access level. It requires no user interaction, making it suitable for automated exploitation in environments where the attacker has already established a foothold with administrative or high-level privileges.
Root Cause
The root cause lies in improper access control mechanisms within the Core component of Oracle VM VirtualBox. The application fails to properly restrict access to certain operations or data, allowing authenticated high-privileged users to perform unauthorized modifications. This access control weakness enables the attacker to manipulate data in ways that were not intended by the application's security design, potentially affecting the integrity of virtualized environments and associated systems.
Attack Vector
The attack requires local access to the infrastructure where Oracle VM VirtualBox is installed and executing. The attacker must possess high privileges on the host system, which significantly limits the attack surface but makes this vulnerability particularly concerning in multi-tenant or shared virtualization environments where administrative access may be delegated.
The attack unfolds as follows:
- The attacker gains high-privileged access to a system running Oracle VM VirtualBox 7.2.6
- The attacker leverages the improper access control in the Core component
- Through this access control bypass, the attacker can perform unauthorized data modifications
- Due to the scope change, these modifications can impact resources beyond VirtualBox itself
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-35249
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected modifications to VirtualBox configuration files or virtual machine disk images
- Anomalous administrative activity on systems running VirtualBox 7.2.6
- Unauthorized changes to guest VM configurations or shared folder settings
- Evidence of data manipulation in VirtualBox-managed resources
Detection Strategies
- Monitor VirtualBox-related processes for unusual behavior from high-privileged accounts
- Implement file integrity monitoring on VirtualBox configuration directories
- Review system logs for unauthorized administrative actions targeting virtualization infrastructure
- Deploy endpoint detection to identify exploitation attempts against the VirtualBox Core component
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable detailed audit logging for all VirtualBox administrative operations
- Monitor for unauthorized access attempts to VirtualBox installation directories
- Implement privilege escalation detection for accounts with VirtualBox access
- Track changes to VirtualBox registry entries and configuration files
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-35249
Immediate Actions Required
- Apply the Oracle Critical Patch Update for April 2026 immediately
- Audit all high-privileged accounts with access to systems running VirtualBox
- Review and restrict administrative access to VirtualBox infrastructure
- Verify the integrity of VirtualBox installations and configurations
Patch Information
Oracle has addressed this vulnerability in the April 2026 Critical Patch Update. Organizations running Oracle VM VirtualBox version 7.2.6 should apply the security patch available through the Oracle Critical Patch Update April 2026. The patch corrects the improper access control issue in the Core component, preventing unauthorized data modifications.
Workarounds
- Restrict local administrative access to systems running VirtualBox to only essential personnel
- Implement network segmentation to isolate VirtualBox hosts from sensitive network segments
- Deploy application control policies to monitor and restrict VirtualBox-related operations
- Consider temporarily disabling VirtualBox on critical systems until patches can be applied
# Configuration example: Restrict VirtualBox service permissions
# Review and limit VirtualBox administrative access
vboxmanage setextradata global GUI/Enabled false
# Enable logging for audit purposes
vboxmanage setextradata global VBoxInternal2/Logging "enabled"
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
