Upgrade VirtualBox

What the VirtualBox Upgrader does

This Automox Worklet™ detects outdated Oracle VirtualBox installations and upgrades them to a version you specify. The Worklet queries both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows registry uninstall locations to find VirtualBox installations and compares the installed version against your target version.

You download the VirtualBox installer from Oracle and upload it to the Automox console. The Worklet uses the uploaded installer to perform silent upgrades on endpoints where older versions are detected. Endpoints without VirtualBox installed are skipped as not applicable, allowing you to deploy the Worklet broadly without affecting endpoints that do not use virtualization.

The installer runs with arguments you specify in the $InstallerArgs variable. VirtualBox supports --silent and --ignore-reboot flags for unattended installation. Running VMs should be stopped before upgrading, as the hypervisor components are updated during installation.

Why keep VirtualBox current on developer endpoints

Hypervisor vulnerabilities create direct paths to endpoint compromise. VirtualBox CVEs including guest-to-host escape vulnerabilities allow attackers to break out of virtual machines and execute code on the host system. Use this Worklet when Oracle publishes security patches for critical VirtualBox vulnerabilities.

Outdated VirtualBox versions cause compatibility issues with modern guest operating systems and fail to support newer hardware virtualization features. Development teams lose productivity troubleshooting VM crashes, display problems, or network connectivity failures that newer VirtualBox releases resolve.

Manual VirtualBox updates across developer workstations consume IT resources. Developers focus on their primary work rather than maintaining virtualization tools. Automating upgrades reduces support tickets for VirtualBox issues and maintains version standardization across your development infrastructure.

Uploading specific installer versions to Automox lets you test new releases in pilot groups before wider deployment. You validate that new versions work with your virtual machine configurations before rolling out organization-wide.

How VirtualBox upgrades work

1. Evaluation phase: The Worklet queries HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall and the 64-bit registry hive for entries matching $AppName (e.g., "VirtualBox"). It compares each installation's DisplayVersion against $AppVersion. If the installed version is lower, the endpoint is flagged for remediation. Endpoints without VirtualBox exit as not applicable.

2. Remediation phase: The Worklet runs the uploaded installer ($InstallerName) from the script directory with the arguments specified in $InstallerArgs (e.g., --silent --ignore-reboot). The installation runs synchronously using Start-Process -Wait. The Worklet outputs the upgrade status and handles any installation errors.

VirtualBox upgrade requirements

• Windows 7 or later

• Oracle VirtualBox already installed (Worklet only upgrades existing installations)

• Upload VirtualBox installer EXE to the Automox console

• Configure $AppVersion with target version number (e.g., '6.1.22')

• Configure $AppName with application name as it appears in registry (e.g., 'VirtualBox')

• Configure $InstallerName with exact filename including version (e.g., 'VirtualBox-6.1.22-144080-Win.exe')

• Configure $InstallerArgs with silent install flags (e.g., '--silent --ignore-reboot')

• Stop all running VMs before upgrade to prevent data corruption

Expected VirtualBox state after upgrade completion

After remediation, VirtualBox runs the target version you specified. Launch the VirtualBox Manager to confirm the new version appears in Help > About VirtualBox. The registry DisplayVersion at HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall matches your target version number.

Existing virtual machines remain in place with all saved states, snapshots, and configurations intact. Users can immediately launch and access their VMs. Update Guest Additions inside each running VM to match the new VirtualBox version for full compatibility and performance.

Installation failures output "Installation failed" with exception details in the Activity Log. Common issues include running VMs causing file locks, incorrect $InstallerName variable, or missing installer in the Automox console payload. Stop all VMs before retrying. Kernel driver updates may require a reboot despite the --ignore-reboot flag.

How to validate upgrade virtualbox changes

1. Run this Worklet on a pilot Windows endpoint and review evaluation output for upgrade virtualbox.

2. Confirm Automox activity logs show successful completion and exit code 0.

3. Verify endpoint state using checks aligned to evaluation script logic, such as Get-ChildItem, Get-ItemProperty, Where-Object.

4. Validate remediation effects from script operations such as Write-Output, Start-Process, Get-ChildItem, then rerun evaluation for compliance.