3D support and security

This is for discussing general topics about how to use VirtualBox.
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Teox
Posts: 19
Joined: 1. Feb 2010, 00:39
Primary OS: MS Windows 7
VBox Version: OSE other
Guest OSses: Debian, Ubuntu

3D support and security

Post by Teox »

Hi all,
in VirtualBox manual we can read:

"Enabling 3D acceleration may expose security holes to malicious software running in the guest"

My question is: how is real this risk? I mean, I have to install a software which is projected to exploit security holes in VirtualBox. I think is a very remote possibility, isn't it? I'm running Ubuntu with 3D support enabled and I'm a bit afraid.
mTi3Ad9vN
Posts: 4
Joined: 29. Dec 2010, 21:19
Primary OS: Other
VBox Version: VirtualBox+Oracle ExtPack
Guest OSses: other

Re: 3D support and security

Post by mTi3Ad9vN »

I don't know enough about VirtualBox's internals to give any details about your question, but you might consider running VirtualBox in an unprivileged (non-root) account. That will impede some (but not all) malware that seeks to break out of a virtual machine into the host.
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