CVE-2026-43998

vm2 is an open source vm/sandbox for Node.js. In 3.10.5, NodeVM's require.root path restriction can be bypassed using filesystem symlinks, allowing sandboxed code to load modules from outside the allowed root directory in host context. Because path validation uses path.resolve() (which does not dereference symlinks) but module loading uses Node's native require() (which does), an attacker can load arbitrary host-realm modules and achieve remote code execution. This vulnerability is fixed in 3.11.0.

CVSS v3 8.5 HIGH

8.5^/10

CVSS v3 : HIGH

Vector :

Exploitability : 1.8 / Impact : 6.0

Attack Vector NETWORK

Attack Complexity HIGH

Privileges Required LOW

User Interaction NONE

Confidentiality Impact HIGH

Integrity Impact HIGH

Availability Impact HIGH

Scope CHANGED

References

Link	Resource
https://github.com/patriksimek/vm2/security/advisories/GHSA-cp6g-6699-wx9c	Exploit Mitigation Vendor Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:50850
https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-43998
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2477206
https://github.com/patriksimek/vm2/security/advisories/GHSA-cp6g-6699-wx9c	Exploit Mitigation Vendor Advisory
https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-43998.json

Configurations

Configuration 1 (hide)

cpe:2.3:a:vm2_project:vm2:3.10.5:*:*:*:*:node.js:*:*

History

No history.

Information

Published : 2026-05-13 18:16

Updated : 2026-09-07 13:19

NVD link : CVE-2026-43998

Mitre link : CVE-2026-43998

CVE.ORG link : CVE-2026-43998

JSON object : View

Products Affected

vm2_project

vm2

CWE

CWE-59

Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')

{"id": "CVE-2026-43998", "cveTags": [], "metrics": {"ssvcV203": [{"source": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0", "ssvcData": {"id": "CVE-2026-43998", "role": "CISA Coordinator", "options": [{"exploitation": "poc"}, {"automatable": "no"}, {"technicalImpact": "total"}], "version": "2.0.3", "timestamp": "2026-05-14T00:00:00+00:00"}}], "cvssMetricV31": [{"type": "Secondary", "source": "security-advisories@github.com", "cvssData": {"scope": "CHANGED", "version": "3.1", "baseScore": 8.5, "attackVector": "NETWORK", "baseSeverity": "HIGH", "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H", "integrityImpact": "HIGH", "userInteraction": "NONE", "attackComplexity": "HIGH", "availabilityImpact": "HIGH", "privilegesRequired": "LOW", "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH"}, "impactScore": 6.0, "exploitabilityScore": 1.8}, {"type": "Secondary", "source": "0b0ca135-0b70-47e7-9f44-1890c2a1c46c", "cvssData": {"scope": "CHANGED", "version": "3.1", "baseScore": 8.5, "attackVector": "NETWORK", "baseSeverity": "HIGH", "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H", "integrityImpact": "HIGH", "userInteraction": "NONE", "attackComplexity": "HIGH", "availabilityImpact": "HIGH", "privilegesRequired": "LOW", "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH"}, "impactScore": 6.0, "exploitabilityScore": 1.8}]}, "affected": [{"source": "security-advisories@github.com", "affectedData": [{"vendor": "patriksimek", "product": "vm2", "versions": [{"status": "affected", "version": "3.10.5"}]}]}, {"source": "0b0ca135-0b70-47e7-9f44-1890c2a1c46c", "affectedData": [{"cpes": ["cpe:/a:redhat:ansible_portal:2.1"], "vendor": "Red Hat", "product": "Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.1", "versions": [{"status": "unaffected", "version": "1785854226", "lessThan": "*", "versionType": "rpm"}], "packageName": "ansible-automation-platform/automation-portal", "collectionURL": "https://catalog.redhat.com/software/containers/", "defaultStatus": "affected"}, {"cpes": ["cpe:/a:redhat:rhdh:1"], "vendor": "Red Hat", "product": "Red Hat Developer Hub", "packageName": "rhdh/rhdh-hub-rhel9", "collectionURL": "https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/", "defaultStatus": "unaffected"}]}], "published": "2026-05-13T18:16:16.317", "references": [{"url": "https://github.com/patriksimek/vm2/security/advisories/GHSA-cp6g-6699-wx9c", "tags": ["Exploit", "Mitigation", "Vendor Advisory"], "source": "security-advisories@github.com"}, {"url": "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:50850", "source": "0b0ca135-0b70-47e7-9f44-1890c2a1c46c"}, {"url": "https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-43998", "source": "0b0ca135-0b70-47e7-9f44-1890c2a1c46c"}, {"url": "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2477206", "source": "0b0ca135-0b70-47e7-9f44-1890c2a1c46c"}, {"url": "https://github.com/patriksimek/vm2/security/advisories/GHSA-cp6g-6699-wx9c", "tags": ["Exploit", "Mitigation", "Vendor Advisory"], "source": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0"}, {"url": "https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-43998.json", "source": "0b0ca135-0b70-47e7-9f44-1890c2a1c46c"}], "vulnStatus": "Modified", "weaknesses": [{"type": "Secondary", "source": "security-advisories@github.com", "description": [{"lang": "en", "value": "CWE-59"}]}, {"type": "Secondary", "source": "0b0ca135-0b70-47e7-9f44-1890c2a1c46c", "description": [{"lang": "en", "value": "CWE-59"}]}], "descriptions": [{"lang": "en", "value": "vm2 is an open source vm/sandbox for Node.js. In 3.10.5, NodeVM's require.root path restriction can be bypassed using filesystem symlinks, allowing sandboxed code to load modules from outside the allowed root directory in host context. Because path validation uses path.resolve() (which does not dereference symlinks) but module loading uses Node's native require() (which does), an attacker can load arbitrary host-realm modules and achieve remote code execution. This vulnerability is fixed in 3.11.0."}], "lastModified": "2026-09-07T13:19:53.370", "configurations": [{"nodes": [{"negate": false, "cpeMatch": [{"criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:vm2_project:vm2:3.10.5:*:*:*:*:node.js:*:*", "vulnerable": true, "matchCriteriaId": "C6CF5783-8EBF-4BF6-B816-055195F260E3"}], "operator": "OR"}]}], "sourceIdentifier": "security-advisories@github.com"}