CVE-2026-43999: CWE-863: Incorrect Authorization in patriksimek vm2
vm2 is an open source vm/sandbox for Node.js. Prior to 3.11.0, NodeVM's builtin allowlist can be bypassed when the module builtin is allowed (including via the '*' wildcard). The module builtin exposes Node's Module._load(), which loads any module by name directly in the host context, completely bypassing vm2's builtin restriction. This allows sandboxed code to load excluded builtins like child_process and achieve remote code execution. This vulnerability is fixed in 3.11.0.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
CVE-2026-43999 is an incorrect authorization vulnerability (CWE-863) in the vm2 Node.js sandbox prior to version 3.11.0. The issue arises because NodeVM's builtin allowlist can be bypassed if the 'builtin' module is allowed, including through the '*' wildcard. This exposes Node's internal Module._load() method, which can load any module by name in the host context, circumventing vm2's builtin restrictions. Exploiting this allows sandboxed code to load excluded builtins like child_process, resulting in remote code execution. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 score of 9.9 (critical) and is fixed in version 3.11.0.
Potential Impact
Exploitation of this vulnerability allows an attacker to bypass vm2's builtin module restrictions and execute arbitrary code on the host system by loading sensitive Node.js modules such as child_process. This leads to full compromise of the host environment from within the sandboxed context, impacting confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Mitigation Recommendations
A fix is available in vm2 version 3.11.0. Users should upgrade to version 3.11.0 or later to remediate this vulnerability. The vendor advisory from Red Hat confirms the vulnerability and the availability of the fix. No additional mitigations are specified.
CVE-2026-43999: CWE-863: Incorrect Authorization in patriksimek vm2
Description
vm2 is an open source vm/sandbox for Node.js. Prior to 3.11.0, NodeVM's builtin allowlist can be bypassed when the module builtin is allowed (including via the '*' wildcard). The module builtin exposes Node's Module._load(), which loads any module by name directly in the host context, completely bypassing vm2's builtin restriction. This allows sandboxed code to load excluded builtins like child_process and achieve remote code execution. This vulnerability is fixed in 3.11.0.
CVSS v3.1
Score 9.9critical
Affected software
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AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
CVE-2026-43999 is an incorrect authorization vulnerability (CWE-863) in the vm2 Node.js sandbox prior to version 3.11.0. The issue arises because NodeVM's builtin allowlist can be bypassed if the 'builtin' module is allowed, including through the '*' wildcard. This exposes Node's internal Module._load() method, which can load any module by name in the host context, circumventing vm2's builtin restrictions. Exploiting this allows sandboxed code to load excluded builtins like child_process, resulting in remote code execution. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 score of 9.9 (critical) and is fixed in version 3.11.0.
Potential Impact
Exploitation of this vulnerability allows an attacker to bypass vm2's builtin module restrictions and execute arbitrary code on the host system by loading sensitive Node.js modules such as child_process. This leads to full compromise of the host environment from within the sandboxed context, impacting confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Mitigation Recommendations
A fix is available in vm2 version 3.11.0. Users should upgrade to version 3.11.0 or later to remediate this vulnerability. The vendor advisory from Red Hat confirms the vulnerability and the availability of the fix. No additional mitigations are specified.
Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.2
- Assigner Short Name
- GitHub_M
- Date Reserved
- 2026-05-04T20:24:31.917Z
- Cvss Version
- 3.1
- State
- PUBLISHED
- Remediation Level
- null
- Vendor Advisory Urls
- [{"url":"https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-43999","vendor":"Red Hat"}]
Threat ID: 6a04ba1fcbff5d8610f48256
Added to database: 05/13/2026, 17:51:27 UTC
Last enriched: 07/15/2026, 09:20:10 UTC
Last updated: 07/31/2026, 19:22:59 UTC
Views: 50
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