Which virtualization risk occurs when an OS on a VM outbursts to access a hypervisor?

The virtualization risk that occurs when an operating system on a virtual machine (VM) manages to exploit vulnerabilities to gain access to the hypervisor is known as guest breakout. This scenario describes a situation where a malicious user or process running on a guest VM can escape its isolated environment and impact the hypervisor itself, potentially leading to unauthorized access to other VMs or the underlying physical hardware.

Guest breakout is particularly concerning because it undermines the fundamental security model of virtualization, which relies on strict isolation between VMs. Successfully breaking out can compromise the integrity and confidentiality of other virtual environments running on the same hypervisor, leading to wider security incidents.

Understanding this risk is crucial for implementing robust security controls in virtualized environments. Proper isolation techniques, regular security updates, and using security-focused configurations can help mitigate the risks associated with guest breakout scenarios. Recognizing the threat of guest breakout is essential for cloud security professionals as they design and maintain secure cloud architectures.