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CriticalFix available

vm2: NodeVM node:-prefixed negative builtin deny bypass exposes child_process

Type: advisorySource: OSV1 source record

## Summary NodeVM normalizes `node:`-prefixed builtin specifiers during `require()` resolution, but it does not normalize user-provided negative builtin entries in wildcard policy. As a result, this configuration: ```js new NodeVM({ require: { builtin: ['*', '-node:child_process'] } }); ``` does not deny the canonical `child_process` builtin. Sandboxed code can require both `child_process` and `node:child_process`, and receives the host module with process-spawning APIs such as `execSync` and `spawn`. The safe proof below only checks module and function reachability. It does not execute any OS command. ## Affected Mode NodeVM. ## Affected Configuration ```js new NodeVM({ require: { builtin: ['*', '-node:child_process'] } }); ``` This affects users who deny builtins using their `node:`-prefixed spelling, expecting `-node:child_process` to deny `require('node:child_process')` and `require('child_process')`. ## Affected Files / Functions - `lib/builtin.js` - `makeBuiltinsFromLegacyOptions` - wildcard builtin expansion - exact negative entry check: `builtins.indexOf(\`-${name}\`)` - `addDefaultBuiltin` - `lib/resolver.js` - `Resolver.resolve` - `lib/setup-node-sandbox.js` - `requireImpl` - `node:` prefix stripping before builtin load ## Root Cause `lib/setup-node-sandbox.js` strips the `node:` prefix from resolved builtin filenames before loading the builtin: ```js if (localStringPrototypeStartsWith(filename, 'node:')) { id = localStringPrototypeSlice(filename, 5); let nmod = cac

Announced Source revision 1
Original source ↗

GHSA-8686-vhfx-7r3j

Primary source · Revision 1

Imported from structured advisory data. Source references identify upstream records or fields; verify affected versions and your deployed configuration.

Security context

Source reference: osv:GHSA-8686-vhfx-7r3j

vm2

Source reference: /affected/0/package/name

Affected versions
Not stated in this record
Fixed versions
3.11.7

Source reference: /affected/0/ranges

Prerequisites
Not stated in this record

Structured affected-version data

Original package identities and version rules from this source.

[
  {
    "ranges": [
      {
        "type": "SEMVER",
        "events": [
          {
            "introduced": "0"
          },
          {
            "fixed": "3.11.7"
          }
        ]
      }
    ],
    "package": {
      "name": "vm2",
      "purl": "pkg:npm/vm2",
      "ecosystem": "npm"
    },
    "database_specific": {
      "source": "https://github.com/github/advisory-database/blob/main/advisories/github-reviewed/2026/10/GHSA-8686-vhfx-7r3j/GHSA-8686-vhfx-7r3j.json",
      "last_known_affected_version_range": "<= 3.11.6"
    }
  }
]
Related CVEs
CVE-2026-92957

Source reference: /aliases

Publisher severity

critical

Source reference: /database_specific/severity

Linked CVE context

These ratings describe the referenced vulnerabilities and products. They are not a severity rating for every application using this dependency.

Event
#61257 · Revision 1
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Publisher date
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