Host command execution via unsanitized Error.cause
Published Aug 17, 2026 · Updated Aug 19, 2026
Sandbox escape in vm2 before 3.11.6 allows attackers to execute host commands via errors whose cause property carries host objects. The handleException() routine in lib/setup-sandbox.js sanitizes SuppressedError and AggregateError fields but returns ordinary errors without recursively sanitizing Error.cause, so a caught host-thrown error can expose references such as process to sandbox code. Exploitation requires an embedder-exposed host function to throw an error whose cause chain includes a powerful host object; once that gate is present, attacker-supplied code running inside the sandbox can pivot to full code execution as the host process.
Summary
What happened
Sandbox escape in vm2 before 3.11.6 allows attackers to execute host commands via errors whose cause property carries host objects. The handleException() routine in lib/setup-sandbox.js sanitizes SuppressedError and AggregateError fields but returns ordinary errors without recursively sanitizing Error.cause, so a caught host-thrown error can expose references such as process to sandbox code. Exploitation requires an embedder-exposed host function to throw an error whose cause chain includes a powerful host object; once that gate is present, attacker-supplied code running inside the sandbox can pivot to full code execution as the host process.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-47686
- Published
- Aug 17, 2026
- Updated
- Aug 19, 2026
- Vendor
- Patrik Simek
- Product
- vm2
- Classifications
- CWE-693
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- Unavailable
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Aug 17, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Aug 19, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=< 3.11.6
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- GHSA-m283-3h24-438v reproduction PoCproof of concept · demonstrated
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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