CVE-2026-43998

vm2: NodeVM require.root bypass via symlink traversal allows sandbox escape

HIGH
8.5
CVSS Score
Published: May 13, 2026 at 05:19 PM UTC
Updated: October 26, 2026 at 05:10 PM UTC
2 products affected across 2 vendorsVM2VM2

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Severity
HIGH8.5
Exploit prediction
EPSS 0.7%
SSVC
PoC

Description

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.

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

Remediation

No guide yet

No remediation guidance has been written for this CVE yet. What the record does show:

References (5)

x_refsource_CONFIRMExploitMitigationVendor Advisory
Source: cverecord
https://github.com/patriksimek/vm2/security/advisories/GHSA-cp6g-6699-wx9c
Source: 0b0ca135-0b70-47e7-9f44-1890c2a1c46c
https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-43998
Source: 0b0ca135-0b70-47e7-9f44-1890c2a1c46c
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2477206
Source: 0b0ca135-0b70-47e7-9f44-1890c2a1c46c
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:50850

SSVC — Action Prioritization

SSVCPoCNot automatableTotal impact

SSVC signals action urgency (what to patch first), separate from CVSS which measures severity.

CVSS

8.5HIGHGitHub_M
Attack Vector
NETWORK
Complexity
HIGH
Privileges
LOW
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
CHANGED
Confidentiality
HIGH
Integrity
HIGH
Availability
HIGH
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusMODIFIED
CWE
CWE-59

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