Index: /trunk/src/VBox/Devices/Network/DevVirtioNet.cpp
===================================================================
--- /trunk/src/VBox/Devices/Network/DevVirtioNet.cpp	(revision 24711)
+++ /trunk/src/VBox/Devices/Network/DevVirtioNet.cpp	(revision 24712)
@@ -1680,4 +1680,11 @@
     if (RT_FAILURE(rc))
         return rc;
+
+    /* Drop packets if VM is not running or cable is disconnected. */
+    VMSTATE enmVMState = PDMDevHlpVMState(pState->VPCI.CTX_SUFF(pDevIns));
+    if ((   enmVMState != VMSTATE_RUNNING
+         && enmVMState != VMSTATE_RUNNING_LS)
+        || !(STATUS & VNET_S_LINK_UP))
+        return VINF_SUCCESS;
 
     STAM_PROFILE_ADV_START(&pState->StatReceive, a);