# CVE-2026-24120: patriksimek vm2 sandbox escape via Promise species bypass

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-24120-patriksimek-vm2-sandbox-escape-via-promise-species-bypass  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-05-04. Updated: 2026-06-30  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-24120 · Severity: critical · CVSS 9.8 · Published 2026-05-04

vm2 is a popular software library used to run untrusted code in a restricted 'sandbox' environment within Node.js applications. A critical vulnerability allows attackers to break out of this restricted environment and execute commands directly on the underlying server. This could lead to a full system takeover, unauthorized data access, or complete service disruption.

Technologies: [vm2 (npm)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/vm2), [Red Hat Developer Hub](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/developer-hub), [Red Hat Self-service automation portal 2](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/self-service-automation-portal-2). Vendors: [npm](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/npm), [Red Hat](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/red-hat).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-24120 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-24120 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-24120?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 9.8, published 4 May 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** vm2 (npm) SEMVER:introduced=0,fixed=3.10.5; Red Hat Developer Hub 1; Red Hat Self-service automation portal 2 2.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-24120?** Yes. vm2 (npm): upgrade to 3.10.5 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-24120 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-24120?** Check whether you run vm2 (npm), Red Hat Developer Hub or Red Hat Self-service automation portal 2 at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix

- vm2 (npm): upgrade to 3.10.5 or later

  ```sh
  npm install vm2@3.10.5
  ```


## Technical details

A sandbox escape vulnerability exists in vm2 due to an insufficient fix for CVE-2023-37466. The original mitigation utilized a 'resetPromiseSpecies' function to protect the Promise species property; however, an attacker can overwrite 'Object.defineProperty' and 'Array.prototype.includes' to prevent this reset from occurring. By manipulating the 'Symbol.species' property of a Promise and triggering an error stack trace, an attacker can acquire the host's 'process' object. This allows for arbitrary command execution via 'child_process' on the host system. The vulnerability is reachable by any user capable of providing code to be executed within the vm2 sandbox. The issue is patched in version 3.10.5.

## Affected products

- patriksimek vm2 <= 3.10.3
- Red Hat Red Hat Developer Hub 1
- Red Hat Self-service automation portal 2 2

## Identifiers

- CVE-2026-24120
- GHSA-qvjj-29qf-hp7p

## Timeline

- 2026-05-01: advisory: GitHub Security Advisory GHSA-qvjj-29qf-hp7p published
- 2026-05-04: disclosed: CVE-2026-24120 published to NVD
- 2026-02-17: patched: Version 3.10.5 released to address the escape vectors

## References

- [https://github.com/patriksimek/vm2/releases/tag/v3.10.5](https://github.com/patriksimek/vm2/releases/tag/v3.10.5)
- [https://github.com/patriksimek/vm2/security/advisories/GHSA-qvjj-29qf-hp7p](https://github.com/patriksimek/vm2/security/advisories/GHSA-qvjj-29qf-hp7p)
- [https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-24120](https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-24120)
- [https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2466529](https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2466529)
- [https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-24120.json](https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-24120.json)

## Related threats

- [vm2 NodeVM path bypass in custom resolution](https://junglewise.ai/threats/duplicate-advisory-vm2-nodevm-custom-resolution-bypasses-external-path-5d3a7272)
- [vm2 NodeVM zlib buffer pool information disclosure](https://junglewise.ai/threats/duplicate-advisory-vm2-nodevm-zlib-buffers-expose-pooled-host-memory-6007c734)
- [vm2 host Promise rejection denial of service in construct trap](https://junglewise.ai/threats/duplicate-advisory-vm2-host-promise-rejection-from-an-exposed-f7aba6ba)
- [vm2 sandbox escape via Buffer backing-store ownership bypass](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-100723-vm2-before-3-12-2-does-not-apply-its-buffer-backing-store)
- [vm2 unhandled Promise rejection in construct trap](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-100722-vm2-before-3-12-2-does-not-apply-host-side-promise-rejection)