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Known exploited vulnerability · CISA KEV

CVE-2008-3431: 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.

CVE-2008-3431

Exploited in the wild. Fix this first.

CISA added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2022-03-03: attackers are using it right now.

CISA KEV
Listed
Added 2022-03-03 · federal fix-by 2022-03-24
EPSS (30 days)
6.9%
Higher than 94% of CVEs · 2026-11-01
CVSS v3.1
8.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

What CISA says

Oracle VirtualBox Insufficient Input Validation Vulnerability

Apply updates per vendor instructions.

NVD description · published 2008-08-05

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.

Full record on NVD

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How to check if you are exposed to CVE-2008-3431

  1. Find every Oracle VirtualBox system you or your clients run, including ones exposed to the internet. Those come first: CISA only lists flaws attackers are already using.
  2. Compare each version with the fixed versions in the vendor advisory. Where no fix exists yet, apply the vendor’s mitigation or take the system off the internet.
  3. Run a credentialed vulnerability scan to catch the systems you missed, then check that the next scan no longer reports CVE-2008-3431.

US federal agencies had to fix this by 2022-03-24. Everyone else should treat that deadline as a guide: if it has passed, this is overdue.

Affected versions

Versions the National Vulnerability Database lists as vulnerable to CVE-2008-3431. Check the vendor advisory for the exact fixed builds before you sign anything off.

ProductVulnerable versions
Oracle Virtualboxbefore 1.6.4

Timeline

  1. · Published in the National Vulnerability Database
  2. · Added to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, 4,958 days after it was published
  3. · Fix-by date for US federal agencies, passed 1,683 days ago

Weakness type

More exploited Oracle vulnerabilities

CISA lists 46 exploited Oracle vulnerabilities. The closest matches:

Keep going

Sources: CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog (version 2026.10.30); EPSS data from FIRST.org; CVSS and descriptions from the NIST National Vulnerability Database. Checked 2026-11-01. This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD.

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