vm2: NodeVM zlib Buffers expose pooled host memory across the VM boundary
## Summary When an application explicitly exposes Node's `zlib` module through vm2's `NodeVM` builtin allowlist, an untrusted guest can obtain a pool-backed host `Buffer` from `zlib.deflateSync`, create a full-width view of its backing `ArrayBuffer`, read bytes outside the compressed result, and flip a byte in an unrelated host buffer. The pinned vm2 revision reproduces disclosure and host-memory modification, while a sandbox-local `Buffer` control remains exact-size and non-mutating. ## Technical Details `NodeVM` accepts `require: { builtin: ['zlib'] }`. The builtin resolver reaches `addDefaultBuiltin` in `lib/builtin.js`, where the host module is exposed through the generic readonly wrapper. `zlib.deflateSync` returns a Node `Buffer`; for a small result, that buffer can use Node's shared pool, whose `.buffer` is the complete pool rather than only the logical result slice. The guest can therefore call `Buffer.from(result.buffer, 0, result.buffer.byteLength)` and inspect or modify pooled bytes outside `result`. The relevant isolation invariant is that every `Buffer` crossing into the sandbox owns its complete backing store: `byteOffset === 0` and `buffer.byteLength === length`. vm2's `depoolBuffer` implementation applies that rule to sandbox-facing `Buffer` factories, but the generic host-builtin return path does not apply it to the `Buffer` returned by `zlib`. The precondition is an embedder that deliberately allowlists `zlib`; applications that do not expose this builtin ar
GHSA-489w-w794-jq94
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-489w-w794-jq94
vm2
Source reference: /affected/0/package/name
- Affected versions
- Not stated in this record
- Fixed versions
- 3.12.2
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": "3.12.2"
}
]
}
],
"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-489w-w794-jq94/GHSA-489w-w794-jq94.json",
"last_known_affected_version_range": "<= 3.12.1"
}
}
]- Related CVEs
- CVE-2026-100723
Source reference:
/aliases
Publisher severity
critical
Source reference: /severity/0/score
- Event
- #85913 · Revision 1
- Added to Heist Feed
- Publisher date