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CVE Record

CVE-2026-24781: vm2: Sandbox Breakout Through Inspect

vm2 is an open source vm/sandbox for Node.js. Prior to version 3.11.0, VM2 suffers from a sandbox breakout vulnerability through the inspect function. This allows attackers to write code which can escape from the VM2 sandbox and execute arbitrary commands on the host system. This issue has been patched in version 3.11.0.

CriticalCVSS 9.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysiscritical

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2026-24781 is a critical vm2 sandbox escape. Applications that rely on vm2 to safely run untrusted Node.js code may allow that code to break out and run commands on the host. The vendor states the issue affects versions before 3.11.0 and is patched in 3.11.0.

Executive priority

Treat as urgent for any system running untrusted code with vm2. Prioritize internet-facing, multi-tenant, automation, CI, and developer-sandbox services first because compromise can reach the host system.

Technical view

vm2 before 3.11.0 has a sandbox breakout through the inspect function. The CVE reports arbitrary host command execution with CVSS 9.8, network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges, and no user interaction. CWE mappings include improper isolation, protection mechanism failure, and code injection.

Likely exposure

Most likely exposure is Node.js services, developer platforms, workflow systems, or internal tooling that execute untrusted or user-controlled JavaScript through vm2 versions below 3.11.0.

Exploitation context

The bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or cited active exploitation. Practical risk depends on whether attackers can influence code executed inside vm2. If they can, the reported impact is full host compromise.

Researcher notes

Evidence supports affected range and fixed version, but the prompt bundle does not include exploit maturity details. Avoid assuming downstream Red Hat product exposure without reviewing the cited Red Hat advisories and VEX data.

Mitigation direction

  • Upgrade vm2 to version 3.11.0 or later.
  • Inventory direct and transitive vm2 dependencies.
  • Review Red Hat advisories if using affected Red Hat products.
  • Restrict untrusted code execution until remediation is complete.
  • Check vendor guidance for any environment-specific mitigations.

Validation and detection

  • Search dependency manifests and lockfiles for vm2.
  • Confirm deployed runtime versions are not below 3.11.0.
  • Identify features that execute user-controlled JavaScript in vm2.
  • Review SBOMs and container images for bundled vm2 copies.
  • Track vendor advisories for downstream package status.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
12

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.

cwe · low confidence lookup

CWE-653: Exact CWE lookup

Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.

Open ATT&CK lookup
cwe · low confidence lookup

CWE-693: Exact CWE lookup

Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.

Open ATT&CK lookup
cwe · medium confidence lookup

CWE-94: Code execution behavior lookup

Code execution and unsafe deserialization weaknesses often justify reviewing execution behavior and process telemetry. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.

Open ATT&CK lookup
cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2026-24781 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Critical
CVSS
9.8 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

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

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

2CVSS vectors
5Timeline events
2ADP providers
11Source links

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: pocAutomatable: yesTechnical Impact: total

CVSS vector scores

2 official scores

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
9.8CVSS 3.1CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H3.95.9GitHub_M
8.1CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H2.25.9redhat-SADP

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

9.8Critical
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2026-24781Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

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

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. ADP timelineredhat-SADP

    Made public.

  3. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  4. ADP timelineredhat-SADP

    Reported to Red Hat.

  5. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

ADP provider summaries

CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
other:ssvc
redhat-SADPvm2: vm2: Arbitrary code execution via sandbox breakout through inspect function
other:Red Hat severity ratingcvssV3_1
  • 2026-05-04T19:03:41.437Z: Reported to Red Hat.
  • 2026-05-04T16:33:32.869Z: Made public.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
patriksimekvm2< 3.11.0Listed
Weakness

CWE details

CWE-653CWE-693CWE-94

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.

CWE-653 · source CWE mapping

Improper Isolation or Compartmentalization

Improper Isolation or Compartmentalization represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.

Open CWE intelligenceSame-CWE CVEs
CWE-693 · source CWE mapping

Protection Mechanism Failure

Protection Mechanism Failure represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.

Open CWE intelligenceSame-CWE CVEs
CWE-94 · source CWE mapping

Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')

Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.

Open CWE intelligenceSame-CWE CVEs