High severity · published May 13, 2026
CVE-2026-43998
vm2: NodeVM require.root bypass via symlink traversal allows sandbox escape
8.5
CVSS
0.7%
EPSS
No
On KEV
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.
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
Attack vector
Network
Complexity
High
Privileges
Low
User interaction
None
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Scope
Changed
Exploitation
Is it being used?
Exploit prediction (EPSS)0.7% · higher than 54% of CVEs
Exploited in the wildNo evidence yet
CISA KEVNot listed
Ransomware campaign useNot known
Affected products
Which versions
VM
vm2 · patriksimek
3.10.5 · source: vendor, NVD
RH
Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.1 · Red Hat
All versions, or not specified · source: CISA
Affected product
VM
vm2
patriksimek
More from vm2
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10.0
CVE-2026-93605
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10.0
CVE-2026-93603
vm2 before 3.12.1 Sandbox Escape RCE via Non-Strict Host Function
10.0
CVE-2026-92960
vm2 before 3.11.6 Process-wide State Exposure via os and dns
10.0
CVE-2026-92956
vm2 3.10.1 through 3.11.6 Sandbox Escape via WebAssembly.compileStreaming