Oracle has released VirtualBox 7.1.8, the fourth maintenance update of the 7.1 series, coinciding perfectly with the anticipated launch of Ubuntu 25.04. This update includes crucial fixes and enhancements rather than new features, aimed at improving stability and user experience across all supported operating systems.
One of the key improvements addresses wireless network adapter detection issues that Linux users had been experiencing in previous releases. Additionally, the update resolves the problem of leftover .sav files after running VM snapshots, which are now automatically deleted.
Other significant fixes include a much-needed resolution for a critical networking issue known as “completely broken” NAT, which previously caused connectivity losses for Windows hosts. Developers have labeled this a permanent fix, bringing much relief to users. Alongside this, several pain points have also been addressed, such as crashes when saving VM configurations through the VirtualBox web service and issues with disk bandwidth settings.
Notably, VirtualBox 7.1.8 introduces initial support for the latest Linux kernel 6.14, enhancing compatibility for the Linux Guest Additions package that improves performance within VMs. Other changes to this package include:
- Resolution of crashes under xwayland guests
- Cursor image fixes in VMs with VBoxVGA graphics adapters
- Successful installation on systems lacking X11 libraries
- Improved status checks for VBoxAdd kernel modules
For users virtualizing Windows, the update brings enhancements to the Windows Guest Additions package as well, including:
- Inclusion of the VBoxAudioTest binary for guest audio testing
- Alternative Shared Folder drivers for Windows 2000 to Windows 7
- Successful installation of mouse drivers for Vista guests
- Fix for the driver installation error related to
ERROR_AUTHENTICODE_TRUST_NOT_ESTABLISHED - Resolution of a CPU usage bug with VBoxTray in specific scenarios
Furthermore, the update includes fixes for both Linux and Windows installer issues, re-establishing network connectivity on Windows hosts, and several documentation updates.
For a deep dive into all the changes, users can check out the official release notes. VirtualBox can be downloaded for free from the VirtualBox website, and users are encouraged to also download the Extension Pack for enhanced features.