vm2 is a sandbox for running untrusted Node.js code. In versions >= 3.11.4 and <= 3.11.6, the NodeVM constructor computes `hasRealRequireConfig` with `typeof requireOpts === 'object' && requireOpts !== null`, so an array-shaped `require` value (for example `require: []`) satisfies the guard that is meant to reject nesting without an explicit require configuration. `makeResolverFromLegacyOptions()` then destructures the array into undefined option fields and returns a resolver containing only `NESTING_OVERRIDE.vm2`. As a result, an attacker who can supply JavaScript executed by a NodeVM configured with truthy `nesting` and an array-shaped `require` (e.g. `new NodeVM({nesting: true, require: []})`) can require the host `vm2` module, create an inner NodeVM with an attacker-chosen builtin allowlist (such as `child_process`), and execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the host Node.js process, escaping the sandbox. Outer builtin restrictions do not constrain the attacker-created inner NodeVM. This issue is fixed in vm2 3.11.7.
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/vm2-nodevm-remote-code-execution-via-array-shaped-require
https://github.com/patriksimek/vm2/security/advisories/GHSA-8hr7-r645-pc6w
https://github.com/patriksimek/vm2/commit/54b54b74a382577f0bcd0538c5bf99acdcd7f53b
Published: 2026-09-17
Updated: 2026-09-17
Base Score: 7.6
Vector: CVSS2#AV:N/AC:H/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
Severity: High
Base Score: 9
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
Severity: Critical
Base Score: 9.5
Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:H/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H
Severity: Critical
EPSS: 0.005