I've been playing around with virtual operating systems for some time and began wondering: would it be possible to set up a virus laboratory in a virtual machine?
If not, are there other ways that do not require me to go out and get an additional computer?
The virtualization software and even the hardware can contain all kinds of bugs that would allow a guest program to access the host. There are already known malware that detects VMs and some may be able to use these vulnerabilities.
Also don't bother about dual-booting or changing disks as virus/rootkits that attack BIOS are not even new.
The only secure solution is to use a physically separated computer with an air gap.
