# CVE-2023-37903: Sandbox Escape in vm2

> Attackers can escape the vm2 sandbox and execute arbitrary code via Node.js custom inspect functions, requiring users to migrate to alternative solutions.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 21 Jul 2023
- **Updated:** 3 Nov 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-g644-9gfx-q4q4, ROOT-APP-NPM-CVE-2023-37903

## What is CVE-2023-37903?

CVE-2023-37903 is a critical code injection vulnerability in patriksimek vm2, published on 21 Jul 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

vm2 is an open source vm/sandbox for Node.js. In vm2 for versions up to and including 3.9.19, Node.js custom inspect function allows attackers to escape the sandbox and run arbitrary code. This may result in Remote Code Execution, assuming the attacker has arbitrary code execution primitive inside the context of vm2 sandbox. There are no patches and no known workarounds. Users are advised to find an alternative software.

Weakness: CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-37903?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including vm2. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `vm2` | npm | All versions to 3.9.19 | None |
| `vm2` | npm | All versions to 3.9.19 | None |

Products: Vm2 Project Vm2.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-37903?

Product is end of life, replace it.

## Is CVE-2023-37903 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-37903 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Public exploit code:

- Exploit for CVE-2023-37903  (github_poc): https://github.com/7h3h4ckv157/CVE-2023-37903

## Other vulnerabilities in patriksimek vm2

- [CVE-2026-43997](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-43997/): vm2: Sandbox Escape (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2026-44005](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-44005/): vm2: Sandbox escape (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2026-44006](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-44006/): vm2: Sandbox Escape (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2023-29017](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-29017/): vm2 Sandbox Escape vulnerability (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2022-36067](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-36067/): vm2 vulnerable to Sandbox Escape before v3.9.11 (critical 10.0)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-37903 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-37903 is a critical code injection vulnerability in patriksimek vm2, published on 21 Jul 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-37903 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- vm2 (npm): affected all versions up to 3.9.19; no fix listed
- vm2 (npm): affected all versions up to 3.9.19; no fix listed

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-37903/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-37903/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-37903
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-37903
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-37903

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-37903/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.