---
id: CVE-2026-92957
title: >-
  vm2 through 3.11.6 does not normalize `node:`-prefixed builtin specifiers when
  evaluating user-supplied negative (deny) entries in a NodeVM wildcard require
  policy
summary: >-
  vm2 through 3.11.6 does not normalize `node:`-prefixed builtin specifiers when
  evaluating user-supplied negative (deny) entries in a NodeVM wildcard require
  policy. Although NodeVM strips the `node:` prefix during require() resolution,
  n…
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-269
vendor: patriksimek
product: vm2
affected:
  - vm2 < 3.11.7
published: '2026-09-17'
updated: '2026-09-17'
sourceUpdated: '2026-09-17T18:17:15.430'
source: NVD
sourceUrl: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-92957'
references:
  - url: 'https://github.com/patriksimek/vm2/security/advisories/GHSA-8686-vhfx-7r3j'
    label: disclosure@vulncheck.com
  - url: >-
      https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/vm2-before-3.11.7-authentication-bypass-via-node-prefix
    label: disclosure@vulncheck.com
  - url: 'https://github.com/patriksimek/vm2/security/advisories/GHSA-8686-vhfx-7r3j'
    label: 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0
tags:
  - nvd
  - cve.org
  - exploit-available
exploitAvailable: true
ssvc:
  exploitation: poc
  automatable: 'no'
  technicalImpact: total
  timestamp: '2026-09-17T17:24:58.866510Z'
ingestedAt: '2026-09-17T14:19:30.990Z'
epss: 0.0057
epssPercentile: 0.44743
---

## Overview

vm2 through 3.11.6 does not normalize `node:`-prefixed builtin specifiers when evaluating user-supplied negative (deny) entries in a NodeVM wildcard require policy. Although NodeVM strips the `node:` prefix during require() resolution, negative wildcard entries are matched by exact string comparison against the canonical builtin names, so a policy such as `new NodeVM({ require: { builtin: ['*', '-node:child_process'] } })` fails to deny the canonical `child_process` module. Sandboxed code can therefore obtain the host `child_process` builtin via `require('child_process')` or `require('node:child_process')`, gaining references to process-spawning APIs such as execSync and spawn, which is equivalent to host command-execution capability for untrusted sandbox code. Fixed in vm2 3.11.7. (Suggested title: "vm2 before 3.11.7: NodeVM builtin deny-list bypass via node:-prefixed specifiers exposes child_process")

## Remediation

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