Summary
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.
Workarounds
None.
References
Github Issue - https://github.com/patriksimek/vm2/issues/516
PoC - https://gist.github.com/leesh3288/f05730165799bf56d70391f3d9ea187c
For more information
If you have any questions or comments about this advisory:
- Open an issue in VM2
Thanks to Xion (SeungHyun Lee) of KAIST Hacking Lab for disclosing this vulnerability.
Impact
A threat actor can bypass the sandbox protections to gain remote code execution rights on the host running the sandbox.
CVE-2023-29199 has a CVSS score of 9.8 (Critical). The vector is network-reachable, no privileges required, and no user interaction. A CVSS score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether this affects your application depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable in your environment. A fixed version is available (3.9.16); upgrading removes the vulnerable code path.
Affected versions
Security releases
Kodem intelligence
Severity tells you how bad this could be in the worst case. It does not tell you whether you are exposed. Exploitability and impact are functions of runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A vulnerable package can sit in your dependency tree and never run.
Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter. Kodem's runtime-powered SCA identifies whether this CVE is reachable in your applications.
Remediation advice
This vulnerability was patched in the release of version 3.9.16 of vm2.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is CVE-2023-29199? CVE-2023-29199 is a critical-severity security vulnerability in vm2 (npm), affecting versions < 3.9.16. It is fixed in 3.9.16.
- How severe is CVE-2023-29199? CVE-2023-29199 has a CVSS score of 9.8 (Critical). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.
- Which versions of vm2 are affected by CVE-2023-29199? vm2 (npm) versions < 3.9.16 is affected.
- Is there a fix for CVE-2023-29199? Yes. CVE-2023-29199 is fixed in 3.9.16. Upgrade to this version or later.
- Is CVE-2023-29199 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2023-29199 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk. Get a demo
- What actually determines whether CVE-2023-29199 is exploitable, and how bad it is? Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.
- How do I fix CVE-2023-29199? Upgrade
vm2to 3.9.16 or later.