---
id: "CVE-2008-3431"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2008-3431"]
title: "Oracle VirtualBox: Oracle VirtualBox Insufficient Input Validation Vulnerability"
severity: "high"
cvss: 8.8
epss: 0.06876
exploited: true
status: "open"
category: "infrastructure"
products: [{"name": "Oracle VirtualBox", "fixed": [], "affected": "", "ecosystem": "vendor"}]
ecosystems: ["vendor"]
tags: ["exploited", "infrastructure", "linux", "macos", "virtualbox", "windows"]
not_affected_if: ["no-virtualbox-installed"]
published_at: "2008-08-05T19:41:00+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-23T19:11:52+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-23T21:57:35+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "kev", "url": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2008-3431", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:11:52+00:00"}, {"source": "epss", "url": "https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2008-3431", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:13:44+00:00"}, {"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-3431", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T21:57:35+00:00"}]
---

# Oracle VirtualBox: Oracle VirtualBox Insufficient Input Validation Vulnerability

Sun xVM VirtualBox's VBoxDrv.sys kernel driver has an input validation flaw that lets a local user run arbitrary code. CISA lists it in its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, so attacks have been seen in the wild.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## Affected

- vendor:Oracle VirtualBox affected ? fixed ?

## Fix

Apply the vendor update for Oracle VirtualBox per vendor instructions (version unknown from sources).

## Timeline

- 2026-10-23T19:11:52+00:00 kev https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2008-3431
- 2026-10-23T19:13:44+00:00 epss https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2008-3431
- 2026-10-23T21:57:35+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-3431

## From the sources

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.

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_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_