CVE-2021-25319Public exploit

Root code execution via replaceable sourced configuration

Published May 5, 2021 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

Incorrect default permissions in openSUSE Factory VirtualBox 6.1.20-1.1 and earlier allow local users to execute code as root. The package specification leaves /etc/vbox group-writable without the intended sticky bit, so vboxusers members can replace vbox.cfg before root-run scripts source it. Membership in vboxusers and a subsequent run of the autostart service are required; successful exploitation grants full root code execution.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.26%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Incorrect default permissions in openSUSE Factory VirtualBox 6.1.20-1.1 and earlier allow local users to execute code as root. The package specification leaves /etc/vbox group-writable without the intended sticky bit, so vboxusers members can replace vbox.cfg before root-run scripts source it. Membership in vboxusers and a subsequent run of the autostart service are required; successful exploitation grants full root code execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-25319
Published
May 5, 2021
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
OpenSUSE
Product
openSUSE Factory
Classifications
CWE-276, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 5, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 16, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=virtualbox <=6.1.20-1.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

OpenSUSE · openSUSE Factoryversion=virtualbox <=6.1.20-1.1

Published CVSS scores

7.8SUSECVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.2NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-276Incorrect Default Permissions
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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