vm2 NodeVM can replace the host process TLS trust store

Exploitation

No confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next marks exploitation only from CISA KEV.

CVSS

10.0 · CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:L

EPSS

• CVE-2026-92941: 0.29% estimated exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 21.55 (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-03). This is a model estimate, not proof of exploitation or customer exposure.

As published by the source; long descriptions are shortened.

Summary vm2 3.11.6 exposes the host tls module to a NodeVM when that builtin is explicitly allowed. Although the module object is wrapped as read-only, its functions still execute against process-wide host state. On Node.js versions that provide tls.setDefaultCACertificates(), sandbox code can replace the certificate authorities trusted by subsequent host-realm TLS clients. The exploit needs only the narrowly allowed tls and url builtins. It does not require fs, process, module, childprocess, an external package, or a general '' builtin grant. A host HTTPS request rejected an attacker certificate before sandbox execution, then accepted the same certificate and returned an application marker after the sandbox replaced the default CA list. This crosses the intended sandbox boundary. An attacker can make host HTTPS clients trust an attacker-controlled CA, enabling credential theft and response tampering when the attacker can influence a subsequent destination or network path. Replacing…

Published by the source

1 Oct 2026, 15:27 UTC

Last modified by the source

1 Oct 2026, 15:45 UTC

Source last checked

26 Oct 2026, 13:06 UTC

1. Revision 3 · amended · 26 Oct 2026

   Amended from ghsa record GHSA-98xx-8mx4-x7cm

2. Revision 2 · amended · 24 Oct 2026

   Amended from osv record GHSA-98xx-8mx4-x7cm

3. Revision 1 · created · 23 Oct 2026

   Published from ghsa record GHSA-98xx-8mx4-x7cm

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# Patch Next advisory brief: CVE-2026-92941

Advisory: vm2 NodeVM can replace the host process TLS trust store
IDs: CVE-2026-92941, GHSA-98xx-8mx4-x7cm
Record: https://patchnext.com/advisories/cve-2026-92941 (revision 3, source checked 26 Oct 2026, 13:06 UTC)
Inventory: none attached. This brief comes from a public page and does not say whether any deployment is affected.
Severity: Critical (CVSS 10.0)
Exploitation: no confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next confirms exploitation only from CISA KEV.
Vendor response: Vendor fix available; fixed versions by package: vm2 3.11.7. A vendor fix does not mean a deployment is fixed.

## Affected components
- npm vm2: affected >= 3.11.3, <= 3.11.6; fixed in 3.11.7

## Suggested inspection (read-only)
- `npm ls vm2 --all`: lists every installed copy and version, including transitive ones. Run in the project root after `npm ci`.

## Supported action
Upgrade each affected component to a fixed version on its release line. For a transitive dependency, upgrade the parent package or add an override or constraint, then regenerate the lockfile. Redeploy every environment that ran an affected version.

## Required regression checks
- Run the test suite and a production build.
- Exercise the features that depend on vm2.
- Repeat the inspection and confirm that only fixed versions remain installed.

## Rollback considerations
- Keep the previous lockfile and deployment artifact. Rolling back reinstates the vulnerable version, so apply any documented mitigation while you fix forward.

## Unresolved questions
- Which deployments run an affected version?
- Exploitation status can change. Check again before lowering the priority.
- Mark the work resolved only after the fixed version is verified in production.

## Sources
- Verified: https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-98xx-8mx4-x7cm (GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-98xx-8mx4-x7cm lists affected ranges: npm vm2 >=3.11.3 <=3.11.6)
- Verified: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/GHSA-98xx-8mx4-x7cm (OSV record GHSA-98xx-8mx4-x7cm lists affected ranges: npm vm2 >=3.11.3 <3.11.7 (fixed))

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