---
id: CVE-2026-92948
title: >-
  vm2 versions >= 3.9.6 and <= 3.11.6 are affected by a NodeVM builtin allowlist
  bypass that permits a sandbox escape on Node.js 24 and newer when the embedder
  explicitly allows the node:test builtin (e.g
summary: >-
  vm2 versions >= 3.9.6 and <= 3.11.6 are affected by a NodeVM builtin allowlist
  bypass that permits a sandbox escape on Node.js 24 and newer when the embedder
  explicitly allows the node:test builtin (e.g. require: { builtin:
  ['node:test']…
severity: critical
cvss: 9.9
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H'
cwe:
  - CWE-693
vendor: patriksimek
product: vm2
affected:
  - vm2 >= 3.9.6 < 3.11.7
published: '2026-09-17'
updated: '2026-09-18'
sourceUpdated: '2026-09-18T20:17:30.980'
source: NVD
sourceUrl: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-92948'
references:
  - url: 'https://github.com/patriksimek/vm2/security/advisories/GHSA-qhwx-74w5-xhxq'
    label: disclosure@vulncheck.com
  - url: >-
      https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/vm2-3.9.6-through-3.11.5-sandbox-escape-via-node-test
    label: disclosure@vulncheck.com
  - url: 'https://github.com/patriksimek/vm2/security/advisories/GHSA-qhwx-74w5-xhxq'
    label: 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0
tags:
  - nvd
  - cve.org
  - exploit-available
exploitAvailable: true
ssvc:
  exploitation: poc
  automatable: 'no'
  technicalImpact: total
  timestamp: '2026-09-18T19:31:46.698017Z'
epss: 0.00654
epssPercentile: 0.49104
ingestedAt: '2026-09-17T14:19:30.987Z'
---

## Overview

vm2 versions >= 3.9.6 and <= 3.11.6 are affected by a NodeVM builtin allowlist bypass that permits a sandbox escape on Node.js 24 and newer when the embedder explicitly allows the node:test builtin (e.g. require: { builtin: ['node:test'] }). On Node.js 24+, module.builtinModules exposes the scheme-only key node:test, which is not covered by vm2's family-based DANGEROUS_BUILTINS protection, so it is stored in the generic host-passthrough loader. Because requireImpl() in lib/setup-node-sandbox.js strips a single 'node:' prefix before the builtin lookup, sandbox code calling require('node:node:test') resolves to the stored node:test key and receives a readonly proxy to the host module. Calls to node:test.run() are forwarded to the host implementation, which spawns a separate Node process for process-isolated test execution and passes through attacker-controlled execArgv values; supplying --eval=<JavaScript> therefore executes arbitrary JavaScript in an unrestricted host Node process outside the NodeVM sandbox. Fixed in vm2 3.11.7.

## Remediation

Refer to the linked advisories for vendor-supplied fixes and affected version ranges.