CVE-2026-92935

vm2 is a sandbox for running untrusted Node.js code. In versions >= 3.11.4 and <= 3.11.6, the NodeVM constructor computes hasRealRequireConfig with typeof requireOpts === 'object' && requireOpts !== null, so an array-shaped require value (for example require: []) satisfies the guard that is meant to reject nesting without an explicit require configuration. makeResolverFromLegacyOptions() then destructures the array into undefined option fields and returns a resolver containing only NESTING_OVERRIDE.vm2. As a result, an attacker who can supply JavaScript executed by a NodeVM configured with truthy nesting and an array-shaped require (e.g. new NodeVM({nesting: true, require: []})) can require the host vm2 module, create an inner NodeVM with an attacker-chosen builtin allowlist (such as child_process), and execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the host Node.js process, escaping the sandbox. Outer builtin restrictions do not constrain the attacker-created inner NodeVM. This issue is fixed in vm2 3.11.7.

vm2 is a sandbox for running untrusted Node.js code. In versions >= 3.11.4 and <= 3.11.6, the NodeVM constructor computes hasRealRequireConfig with typeof requireOpts === 'object' && requireOpts !== null, so an array-shaped require value (for example require: []) satisfies the guard that is meant to reject nesting without an explicit require configuration. makeResolverFromLegacyOptions() then destructures the array into undefined option fields and returns a resolver containing only NESTING_OVERRIDE.vm2. As a result, an attacker who can supply JavaScript executed by a NodeVM configured with truthy nesting and an array-shaped require (e.g. new NodeVM({nesting: true, require: []})) can require the host vm2 module, create an inner NodeVM with an attacker-chosen builtin allowlist (such as child_process), and execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the host Node.js process, escaping the sandbox. Outer builtin restrictions do not constrain the attacker-created inner NodeVM. This issue is fixed in vm2 3.11.7.

Summary

The NodeVM constructor computes hasRealRequireConfig using typeof requireOpts === 'object' && requireOpts !== null, so require: [] bypasses the guard intended to reject nesting without an explicit require configuration. makeResolverFromLegacyOptions() then destructures the array to undefined option fields and returns a resolver containing only NESTING_OVERRIDE.vm2. Any attacker whose JavaScript is executed by a downstream NodeVM configured with {nesting: true, require: []} can load the host vm2 module, create an inner NodeVM with an attacker-selected builtin allowlist, and execute commands as the host process. No equivalent plain-object validation exists in makeResolverFromLegacyOptions().

Array is converted into the vm2-only resolver: https://github.com/patriksimek/vm2/blob/54b54b74a382577f0bcd0538c5bf99acdcd7f53b/lib/resolver-compat.js#L205-L226

Nesting loader returns the host VM constructors: https://github.com/patriksimek/vm2/blob/54b54b74a382577f0bcd0538c5bf99acdcd7f53b/lib/nodevm.js#L640-L645

Proof of Concept

Preconditions:

• The host creates NodeVM with truthy nesting and array-shaped require.
• The attacker can supply JavaScript executed by that NodeVM.

'use strict';

const {NodeVM} = require('./index.js');

const outer = new NodeVM({nesting: true, require: []});
const result = outer.run(`
	const {NodeVM} = require('vm2');
	const inner = new NodeVM({require: {builtin: ['child_process']}});
	module.exports = inner.run(
		"module.exports = require('child_process').execSync('id').toString()"
	);
`);

console.log(result);

uid=1000(lohar) gid=1000(lohar) groups=1000(lohar)

The hasRealRequireConfig guard fails open because it returns true for arrays, although arrays are not VMRequire configuration objects. makeResolverFromLegacyOptions() applies object destructuring to the array, obtains undefined builtin and external values, merges NESTING_OVERRIDE, and returns before any external-module control is relevant. Outer builtin restrictions do not constrain the attacker-created inner NodeVM, whose require configuration is selected inside the sandbox.

Failed shape check: https://github.com/patriksimek/vm2/blob/54b54b74a382577f0bcd0538c5bf99acdcd7f53b/lib/nodevm.js#L304-L307

Impact

An attacker can execute arbitrary commands with the host Node.js process privileges, including reading secrets, modifying files, and accessing the host network. GHSA-m4wx-m65x-ghrr covers the same nesting primitive but does not cover array-shaped require values and incorrectly identifies 3.11.4 as patched.

Exploitation is limited to downstream applications that enable nesting and pass the malformed array configuration.

Duplicate Advisory

This advisory has been withdrawn because it is a duplicate of GHSA-8hr7-r645-pc6w. This link is maintained to preserve external references.

Original Description

vm2 is a sandbox for running untrusted Node.js code. In versions >= 3.11.4 and <= 3.11.6, the NodeVM constructor computes hasRealRequireConfig with typeof requireOpts === 'object' && requireOpts !== null, so an array-shaped require value (for example require: []) satisfies the guard that is meant to reject nesting without an explicit require configuration. makeResolverFromLegacyOptions() then destructures the array into undefined option fields and returns a resolver containing only NESTING_OVERRIDE.vm2. As a result, an attacker who can supply JavaScript executed by a NodeVM configured with truthy nesting and an array-shaped require (e.g. new NodeVM({nesting: true, require: []})) can require the host vm2 module, create an inner NodeVM with an attacker-chosen builtin allowlist (such as child_process), and execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the host Node.js process, escaping the sandbox. Outer builtin restrictions do not constrain the attacker-created inner NodeVM. This issue is fixed in vm2 3.11.7.

vm2 is a sandbox for running untrusted Node.js code. In versions >= 3.11.4 and <= 3.11.6, the NodeVM constructor computes hasRealRequireConfig with typeof requireOpts === 'object' && requireOpts !== null, so an array-shaped require value (for example require: []) satisfies the guard that is meant to reject nesting without an explicit require configuration. makeResolverFromLegacyOptions() then destructures the array into undefined option fields and returns a resolver containing only NESTING_OVERRIDE.vm2. As a result, an attacker who can supply JavaScript executed by a NodeVM configured with truthy nesting and an array-shaped require (e.g. new NodeVM({nesting: true, require: []})) can require the host vm2 module, create an inner NodeVM with an attacker-chosen builtin allowlist (such as child_process), and execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the host Node.js process, escaping the sandbox. Outer builtin restrictions do not constrain the attacker-created inner NodeVM. This issue is fixed in vm2 3.11.7.

vm2 is a sandbox for running untrusted Node.js code. In versions >= 3.11.4 and <= 3.11.6, the NodeVM constructor computes hasRealRequireConfig with typeof requireOpts === 'object' && requireOpts !== null, so an array-shaped require value (for example require: []) satisfies the guard that is meant to reject nesting without an explicit require configuration. makeResolverFromLegacyOptions() then destructures the array into undefined option fields and returns a resolver containing only NESTING_OVERRIDE.vm2. As a result, an attacker who can supply JavaScript executed by a NodeVM configured with truthy nesting and an array-shaped require (e.g. new NodeVM({nesting: true, require: []})) can require the host vm2 module, create an inner NodeVM with an attacker-chosen builtin allowlist (such as child_process), and execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the host Node.js process, escaping the sandbox. Outer builtin restrictions do not constrain the attacker-created inner NodeVM. This issue is fixed in vm2 3.11.7.