CVE Database

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.

vm2 versions 3.10.2 through 3.11.6 contain a sandbox escape vulnerability on Node.js 26 where Promise.prototype.finally() bypasses vm2's wrapper protections due to a stale PromiseThenLookupChain protector in V8 14.6. Attackers can exploit this by creating an async function that returns a Promise with an attacker-controlled constructor Symbol.species, allowing them to reach the host Function constructor and process object for arbitrary code execution.

vm2 versions 3.11.3 through 3.11.6 expose Node.js's host node:sqlite module to code running in NodeVM when that builtin is permitted, either explicitly or through builtin: ['*']. The module is wrapped with vm.readonly(), which prevents property assignment but leaves host-authority callables reachable; in addition, the resolver treats any request starting with 'node:' as a core-module request and the runtime strips only one 'node:' prefix, so a sandbox request for 'node:node:sqlite' resolves to the configured node:sqlite entry. Sandboxed code can therefore create an in-memory DatabaseSync with extension loading enabled and call DatabaseSync.loadExtension() on a native library bundled in the untrusted plugin package (path derived from __dirname). SQLite loads the library into the Node.js host process and invokes its native entry point, giving the sandboxed plugin arbitrary native code execution outside the sandbox with the host process's privileges. The issue is fixed in vm2 3.11.7.

vm2 before 3.11.8 contains an incomplete fix for Error.cause sanitization that allows sandbox escape when revisited host-wrapped AggregateError objects are caught within a single exception handler traversal. Attackers can exploit cycle detection bypass in handleException to access unsanitized host proxies embedded in the errors array, enabling full remote code execution and process information disclosure from the sandbox.

As part of Cisco's ongoing commitment to proactive security and product quality, the Cisco Secure Adaptive Security Appliance Software, Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense Software and Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center Software engineering team has conducted a comprehensive internal security review. This review resulted in a software hardening release that addresses multiple internally discovered vulnerabilities. &nbsp; The vulnerabilities tracked by CVE-2026-20331 are related to the failure of protection mechanisms issues that are grouped under the Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) Pillar CWE-693.