CVE-2024-21116

Root code execution via vboxdrv privilege mismanagement

Published Apr 16, 2024 · Updated Mar 19, 2025

Incorrect default permissions in Oracle VM VirtualBox before 7.0.16 allow local users on Linux hosts to execute code as root. The flaw is in the vboxdrv kernel module, where improper privilege management permits low-privileged code to cross into the root context. An attacker must already be able to run low-privileged code on the Linux host; successful exploitation provides full host compromise.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.40%
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 Oracle VM VirtualBox before 7.0.16 allow local users on Linux hosts to execute code as root. The flaw is in the vboxdrv kernel module, where improper privilege management permits low-privileged code to cross into the root context. An attacker must already be able to run low-privileged code on the Linux host; successful exploitation provides full host compromise.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-21116
Published
Apr 16, 2024
Updated
Mar 19, 2025
Vendor
Oracle Corporation
Product
Oracle VM VirtualBox
Classifications
CWE-276, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 16, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 19, 2025Record 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=* <7.0.16

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Oracle Corporation · Oracle VM VirtualBoxversion=* <7.0.16

Published CVSS scores

7.8OracleCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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.

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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 exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-276Incorrect Default Permissions
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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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