Can malware jump from the host OS to a virtual OS?

[xCxStylex]

in title... Can malware pass from the host OS to a VM?

Because I'm lazy, I'd really rather not reformat my system, but I need a secure, clean system to RDP to work on.

Similiar to this thread, but the opposite 😛

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...alware+virtual+machine

 

[lxskllr]

It could spread over the network if nothing else. Otherwise, I /think/ there may have been some proof of concept examples where a virus crossed the barrier, but I'm not sure about that.

 

[Nothinman]

Yea, the biggest thing you have to worry about is the fact that the VM acts just like another machine on the network so if the malware spreads via the network and your host is exploitable it'll make it.

 

[mechBgon]

Also, if you have a shared folder, malware on the host OS can infect stuff you might use on the VM. And if autorun/autoplay malware infects that folder with a malicious autorun.inf file (which is a real-world tactic) then you might get hit when you simply view it, if your VM has autoplay enabled.