CVE-2026-44007: CWE-284: Improper Access Control in patriksimek vm2
vm2 is an open source vm/sandbox for Node.js. Prior to 3.11.1, when a NodeVM is created with nesting: true, sandbox code can unconditionally require('vm2') regardless of the outer VM's require configuration — including require: false. With access to vm2, the sandbox constructs a new inner NodeVM with its own unrestricted require settings and executes arbitrary OS commands on the host. Any application that runs untrusted code inside a NodeVM with nesting: true is fully compromised. This vulnerability is fixed in 3.11.1.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
The vm2 Node.js sandbox before version 3.11.1 contains an improper access control vulnerability (CWE-284) when NodeVM is instantiated with nesting: true. In this scenario, sandboxed code can require the 'vm2' module regardless of the outer VM's require configuration, including when require is disabled. This allows the sandbox to create a nested NodeVM with unrestricted require permissions, enabling execution of arbitrary operating system commands on the host machine. This vulnerability leads to a complete compromise of any application running untrusted code inside a nested NodeVM. The issue is addressed and fixed in vm2 version 3.11.1. The vulnerability has a CVSS v3.1 score of 9.1 (critical) and is documented by Red Hat and other sources.
Potential Impact
Exploitation of this vulnerability allows an attacker with the ability to run code inside a nested NodeVM to escape the sandbox restrictions and execute arbitrary OS commands on the host system. This results in full compromise of the host environment running the vulnerable vm2 sandbox with nesting enabled. The impact includes complete confidentiality, integrity, and availability loss for the affected system.
Mitigation Recommendations
This vulnerability is fixed in vm2 version 3.11.1. Users should upgrade to version 3.11.1 or later to remediate the issue. No alternative mitigations are specified by the vendor advisory. Applications running untrusted code inside a NodeVM with nesting enabled should apply the update promptly to prevent exploitation.
CVE-2026-44007: CWE-284: Improper Access Control in patriksimek vm2
Description
vm2 is an open source vm/sandbox for Node.js. Prior to 3.11.1, when a NodeVM is created with nesting: true, sandbox code can unconditionally require('vm2') regardless of the outer VM's require configuration — including require: false. With access to vm2, the sandbox constructs a new inner NodeVM with its own unrestricted require settings and executes arbitrary OS commands on the host. Any application that runs untrusted code inside a NodeVM with nesting: true is fully compromised. This vulnerability is fixed in 3.11.1.
CVSS v3.1
Score 9.1critical
Affected software
patriksimek
vm2
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AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
The vm2 Node.js sandbox before version 3.11.1 contains an improper access control vulnerability (CWE-284) when NodeVM is instantiated with nesting: true. In this scenario, sandboxed code can require the 'vm2' module regardless of the outer VM's require configuration, including when require is disabled. This allows the sandbox to create a nested NodeVM with unrestricted require permissions, enabling execution of arbitrary operating system commands on the host machine. This vulnerability leads to a complete compromise of any application running untrusted code inside a nested NodeVM. The issue is addressed and fixed in vm2 version 3.11.1. The vulnerability has a CVSS v3.1 score of 9.1 (critical) and is documented by Red Hat and other sources.
Potential Impact
Exploitation of this vulnerability allows an attacker with the ability to run code inside a nested NodeVM to escape the sandbox restrictions and execute arbitrary OS commands on the host system. This results in full compromise of the host environment running the vulnerable vm2 sandbox with nesting enabled. The impact includes complete confidentiality, integrity, and availability loss for the affected system.
Mitigation Recommendations
This vulnerability is fixed in vm2 version 3.11.1. Users should upgrade to version 3.11.1 or later to remediate the issue. No alternative mitigations are specified by the vendor advisory. Applications running untrusted code inside a NodeVM with nesting enabled should apply the update promptly to prevent exploitation.
Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.2
- Assigner Short Name
- GitHub_M
- Date Reserved
- 2026-05-04T21:24:36.505Z
- Cvss Version
- 3.1
- State
- PUBLISHED
- Vendor Advisory Urls
- [{"url":"https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-44007","vendor":"Red Hat"}]
Threat ID: 6a04ba22cbff5d8610f482cb
Added to database: 05/13/2026, 17:51:30 UTC
Last enriched: 08/06/2026, 13:01:56 UTC
Last updated: 09/13/2026, 22:12:47 UTC
Views: 79
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