Cyber Resilience

CVE-2023-37466

RCE in Vm2 Project Vm2 ≤ 3.9.19

Public PoCRCE
Published
14 July 2023
Modified
05 January 2026
Patch / advisory
CVSS Score v3.1 9.8
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.039 89th percentile
Risk Priority 79 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2023-37466 is a critical-severity Code Injection (CWE-94) vulnerability in Vm2 Project Vm2. Its CVSS base score is 9.8 (Critical).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Command and Scripting Interpreter (T1059); ranked in the top 11% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.

Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary

Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.

vm2 is a sandbox library for isolating untrusted JavaScript code in Node.js. Versions up to 3.9.19 contain a flaw in Promise handler sanitization that can be bypassed using the @@species accessor property. The issue is tracked as CWE-94 and carries a CVSS score of 9.8, enabling escape from the sandbox to execute arbitrary code within the vm2 context. The project has been discontinued and is explicitly not recommended for production use.

An unauthenticated remote attacker can supply crafted JavaScript that triggers the bypass, achieving code execution inside the sandbox without user interaction. Successful exploitation grants the attacker the same privileges as the sandboxed code, which may include access to the underlying Node.js runtime depending on how vm2 is deployed.

The official patch is included in release 3.10.0, accompanied by a commit that addresses the sanitization logic. Security advisories from the vm2 repository and NetApp recommend upgrading immediately and note that no further maintenance will be provided for the library.

EPSS scores have remained modest, with a peak of 0.0682 and a current value of 0.0493.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

vm2 is an advanced vm/sandbox for Node.js. The library contains critical security issues and should not be used for production. The maintenance of the project has been discontinued. In vm2 for versions up to 3.9.19, `Promise` handler sanitization can be…

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bypassed with the `@@species` accessor property allowing attackers to escape the sandbox and run arbitrary code, potentially allowing remote code execution inside the context of vm2 sandbox. Version 3.10.0 contains a patch for the issue.

CWE(s)

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques

T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter Execution
Adversaries may abuse command and script interpreters to execute commands, scripts, or binaries.
T1059.001 PowerShell Execution
Adversaries may abuse PowerShell commands and scripts for execution.
T1059.002 AppleScript Execution
Adversaries may abuse AppleScript for execution.
T1059.004 Unix Shell Execution
Adversaries may abuse Unix shell commands and scripts for execution.
T1059.005 Visual Basic Execution
Adversaries may abuse Visual Basic (VB) for execution.
T1059.006 Python Execution
Adversaries may abuse Python commands and scripts for execution.
Derived from this CVE’s CWE(s) via the direct CWE→ATT&CK cross-walk.

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2026-44006Same product: Vm2 Project Vm2
CVE-2026-43997Same product: Vm2 Project Vm2
CVE-2026-44005Same product: Vm2 Project Vm2
CVE-2026-24118Same product: Vm2 Project Vm2
CVE-2026-24120Same product: Vm2 Project Vm2
CVE-2026-22709Same product: Vm2 Project Vm2
CVE-2026-24781Same product: Vm2 Project Vm2
CVE-2026-26332Same product: Vm2 Project Vm2
CVE-2023-29017Same product: Vm2 Project Vm2
CVE-2023-29199Same product: Vm2 Project Vm2

Affected Assets

vm2 project
vm2
≤ 3.9.19

Mitigating Controls

Control response

Prevent
Stop it (NIST 800-53)

Detect
Catch it (NIST detect / respond)

Harden
Shrink the surface (DISA STIG)

Validate
Prove the fix (OWASP ASVS)
  • V1.3.1

Likely Mitigating Controls AI

Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.

addresses: CWE-94

Makes persistent code injection into loaded programs impossible when the executable image itself resides on hardware-protected read-only media.

addresses: CWE-94

Dynamically generated code can be produced and executed inside the isolated chamber, preventing host compromise from code-injection payloads.

addresses: CWE-94

Validates inputs used in dynamic code generation to block injected directives.

addresses: CWE-94

Directly prevents execution of attacker-supplied code written into data memory regions.

Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

PR.PS-06 mostly match
prevents

PR.PS-06's SDLC practices directly target injection flaws via secure coding and testing (mostly), yet as a single broad outcome it leaves many code-generation specifics unaddressed (partial).

PR.DS-10 none match
prevents

PR.DS-10 protects runtime data confidentiality/integrity but has no bearing on neutralizing externally influenced input during code generation, so neither direction shows any preventive effect.

Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

prevents

Banning unapproved code samples and unauthenticated web services, combined with secure-coding standards and SAST, prevents the dynamic generation or inclusion of attacker-supplied code.

none

Controls that restrict unauthorized or malicious code from being introduced via external networks or removable media limit opportunities for an attacker to inject and execute arbitrary code.

References