Virtual Machine

Anybody know if it's possible for a virus/trojan to infect the host computer if it's running on a virtual machine?

cyb3rl0rd1867 wrote: Anybody know if it's possible for a virus/trojan to infect the host computer if it's running on a virtual machine?

No if the VM has a virus it will not infect the host. A google search could have answered that question for you though ;)

I was wondering if it was theoretically possible, maybe a buffer overflow on the program running the virtual machine, or something of the sort. I was thinking that maybe it would be possible because ultimately the data from the vm is being stored on your regular hard drive and if it could execute itself somehow, it would infect the host machine.

cyb3rl0rd1867 wrote: I was wondering if it was theoretically possible, maybe a buffer overflow on the program running the virtual machine, or something of the sort. I was thinking that maybe it would be possible because ultimately the data from the vm is being stored on your regular hard drive and if it could execute itself somehow, it would infect the host machine.

I'm pretty sure if someone coded the virus specifically for that purpose then they could cause damage but your normal virus cannot but then again who knows hackers are all ways finding different ways in and around stuff so it wouldn't surprise me

This has already been done in windows. Vmware lays reg keys when installed, If you change the reg. keys in HKLM and HKCU for Vmware to connect and communicate with the local drive, A virus will then spread to the entire machine and connecting network.

Is it a real concern?

As nsaid above VM's can be configured to access your local drive and network, so there is nothing stopping a worm or trojan from doing thsat configuration itself.

For true security there are a few articles on the internet about building secure VM's to test malware, viruses and other malicious software.

Something along these lines? http://www.doecirc.energy.gov/bulletins/t-245.shtml