CVE-2008-3431

Status: AnalyzedHigh (8.8)⚠ Active exploitation💥 Exploit

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

Version: 3.1
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
Base score: 8.8

Exploitation probability (EPSS)

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days: 6.88%
Percentile among all scored CVEs: 94
Score date: 10/7/2026

EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System, FIRST) estimates how likely a vulnerability is to be exploited in the wild within 30 days. It complements CVSS (impact) and CISA KEV (confirmed exploitation).

CISA KEV — actively exploited

Added to catalog: 3/3/2022
Remediation due date: 3/24/2022
Known ransomware use: Unknown

💥 Public exploits

Exploit code or detection templates are publicly available. This is not the same as confirmed active exploitation (KEV), but it raises the risk: patch with priority.

Published on Exploit-DB · Sun xVM VirtualBox < 1.6.4 - Privilege Escalation (PoC) (8/10/2008)

🎯 ATT&CK techniques

How this vulnerability is exploited and what the attacker gains, in MITRE ATT&CK terms.

ExploitationT1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalationprivilege escalation85 %
Secondary impactT1548 Abuse Elevation Control Mechanismprivilege escalation75 %

Vulnerabilidad local en driver (VBoxDrv.sys) que permite escalada de privilegios mediante IOCTL mal validado. Acceso local (AV:L, PR:L) permite ejecución en kernel.

Inferred by our analysis agent from the official description, CVSS vector and CWE, and checked by a supervisor. May contain errors.

🛡️ ATT&CK mitigations that cover these techniques

Execution Prevention Update Software User Account Management Threat Intelligence Program Restrict File and Directory Permissions Privileged Account Management

Affected technologies (1)

Oracle — Virtualbox

CWEs

NVD-CWE-noinfo

References

Raw JSON (NVD)

Show

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