[Bug]: VirtualBox Manager hangs and leaks memory when opening Port Forwarding settings on Windows 11 #959

VirtualBox_WER_AppHang_reports_20261106.zip
Users_huyvo_.VirtualBox_VBoxSVC.log

Version

7.2.22

Host OS Type

Windows

Host OS name + version

Windows 11, build 10.0.26200.9711

Host Architecture

x86

Guest OS Type

Linux

Guest Architecture

ARM

Guest OS name + version

No response

Component

Unspecified

What happened?

VirtualBox Manager becomes unresponsive when opening a VM's Settings dialog, especially when accessing Network > NAT > Port Forwarding.

The issue also occurs when all virtual machines are powered off. At the time of the failure, VBoxManage list runningvms returns no running VMs, but VirtualBox.exe stops responding while VBoxSVC.exe remains running.

Windows reports an AppHangXProcB1 event involving VirtualBox.exe and VBoxSVC.exe. The VirtualBox Manager process grows significantly in memory usage before becoming unresponsive.

Expected behavior:
The Settings dialog should open normally and allow the VM configuration and port forwarding rules to be viewed or edited, regardless of whether the VM is running.

Environment:

• VirtualBox 7.2.22 r175245
• Windows 11, build 10.0.26200.9711
• Lenovo ThinkPad P15 Gen 2i
• No VirtualBox Extension Pack installed
• Affected VMs use NAT networking

The complete VBoxSVC.log, selectorwindow.log, VirtualBox Manager logs, and Windows Error Reporting files are attached.

How can we reproduce this?

1. Install VirtualBox 7.2.22 r175245 on Windows 11.
2. Create or import one or more virtual machines using NAT networking.
3. Power off all virtual machines.
4. Start VirtualBox Manager.
5. Right-click a VM and select Settings.
6. Open the Network section.
7. Select NAT and open Port Forwarding.
8. Wait until the Settings dialog or VirtualBox Manager becomes unresponsive.
9. Check the process state in Windows Task Manager.
10. Run VBoxManage list runningvms and verify that no VMs are running.

Observed result:
VirtualBox Manager may stop responding while VBoxSVC.exe remains running. Windows may record an AppHangXProcB1 event identifying VBoxSVC.exe in the hang report.

Expected result:
The Settings and Port Forwarding dialogs should open and remain responsive when all VMs are powered off.

The attached logs were collected immediately after reproducing the issue.

Did you upload all of your necessary log files, screenshots, etc.?

• Yes, I've uploaded all pertinent files to this issue.