# CVE-2018-2686: Privilege escalation in VM VirtualBox

> An attacker with local access can exploit a flaw in Oracle VM VirtualBox to take over the application, potentially compromising the host system.

- **Severity:** High 8.6 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 18 Jan 2018
- **Updated:** 3 Oct 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-9g8w-48rp-r2hq, UBUNTU-CVE-2018-2686

## What is CVE-2018-2686?

CVE-2018-2686 is a high-severity vulnerability in Oracle Vm Virtualbox, published on 18 Jan 2018. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Vulnerability in the Oracle VM VirtualBox component of Oracle Virtualization (subcomponent: Core). Supported versions that are affected are Prior to 5.1.32 and Prior to 5.2.6. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with logon to the infrastructure where Oracle VM VirtualBox executes to compromise Oracle VM VirtualBox. Successful attacks require human interaction from a person other than the attacker and while the vulnerability is in Oracle VM VirtualBox, attacks may significantly impact additional products. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in takeover of Oracle VM VirtualBox. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 8.6 (Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H).

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-2686?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Oracle Vm Virtualbox.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-2686?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2018-2686 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-2686 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Oracle Vm Virtualbox

- [CVE-2016-5605](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-5605/): Unspecified vulnerability in the Oracle VM VirtualBox component before 5.1.4 in Oracle Virtualization allows remote attackers to affect conf (critical 9.1)
- [CVE-2018-3294](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-3294/): Privilege escalation in VM VirtualBox (critical 9.0)
- [CVE-2024-21112](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-21112/): Privilege escalation in VM VirtualBox (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2024-21113](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-21113/): Privilege escalation in VM VirtualBox (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2024-21114](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-21114/): Privilege escalation in VM VirtualBox (high 8.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-2686 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-2686 is a high-severity vulnerability in Oracle Vm Virtualbox, published on 18 Jan 2018. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-2686 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Oracle Vm Virtualbox. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-2686/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-2686/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-2686
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-2686
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-2686

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-2686/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.