CVE-2026-43998

HIGH

vm2: NodeVM require.root bypass via symlink traversal allows sandbox escape

Title source: cna
STIX 2.1

Description

vm2 is an open source vm/sandbox for Node.js. In 3.10.5, NodeVM's require.root path restriction can be bypassed using filesystem symlinks, allowing sandboxed code to load modules from outside the allowed root directory in host context. Because path validation uses path.resolve() (which does not dereference symlinks) but module loading uses Node's native require() (which does), an attacker can load arbitrary host-realm modules and achieve remote code execution. This vulnerability is fixed in 3.11.0.

References (1)

Core 1
Core References

Scores

CVSS v3 8.5
EPSS 0.0028
EPSS Percentile 51.8%
Attack Vector NETWORK
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

CISA SSVC

Vulnrichment
Exploitation poc
Automatable no
Technical Impact total

Details

CWE
CWE-59
Status published
Products (3)
npm/vm2 3.10.5 - 3.11.0npm
patriksimek/vm2 3.10.5
vm2_project/vm2 3.10.5
Published May 13, 2026
Tracked Since May 13, 2026