Detect CVE-2026-47208: vm2 Sandbox Breakout via Promise Species in CrowdStrike LogScale
Detects exploitation of CVE-2026-47208, a critical sandbox escape vulnerability in the vm2 Node.js library (versions <= 3.11.3). Attackers can abuse the Promise species pattern to break out of the vm2 sandbox and execute arbitrary code on the host. This vulnerability has a CVSS score of 10.0 and a public PoC is available.
MITRE ATT&CK
LogScale Detection Query
#event_simpleName=ProcessRollup2
| CommandLine = /vm2/i OR CommandLine = /Symbol\.species/i OR CommandLine = /__proto__/i
| ImageFileName = /node(\.exe)?$/i
| eval vm2_args_detected=1
| join type=inner (
#event_simpleName=ProcessRollup2
| ParentBaseFileName = /node(\.exe)?$/i
| FileName IN ["sh", "bash", "dash", "zsh", "cmd.exe", "powershell.exe", "python", "python3", "curl", "wget", "nc", "ncat", "perl", "ruby"]
| eval suspicious_child=1
) ON [aid, ParentProcessId=ProcessId]
| table _time, ComputerName, UserName, ImageFileName, CommandLine, FileName, ParentBaseFileName
| sort -_time CrowdStrike Falcon query detecting vm2 sandbox escape exploitation. Joins Node.js processes running vm2/Promise-species patterns with suspicious child processes to identify successful sandbox breakouts.
Data Sources
Required Tables
False Positives & Tuning
- Managed Node.js environments where vm2 is used legitimately and admins also run shell commands
- Containerized Node.js applications that spawn shell commands as part of health checks or entrypoints
- Security tools running vm2 sandbox tests and comparing results via shell utilities
- Node.js serverless functions that use vm2 and have shell access via SDK calls
Other platforms for CVE-2026-47208
Testing Methodology
Validate this detection against 3 adversary techniques from Atomic Red Team. Each test below lists the behaviour to exercise and the telemetry you should expect to see. Executable commands and cleanup steps are available with Pro.
- Test 1vm2 Promise Species Sandbox Escape - Basic PoC
Expected signal: EDR should record: node process executing with command line containing vm2 and Promise/species keywords; file write event to /tmp/vm2_escape_proof.txt from the node process.
- Test 2vm2 Sandbox Escape with Child Process Spawn
Expected signal: EDR process tree: node.exe spawning bash as child process. Sysmon Event ID 1 or auditd EXECVE records showing parent process as node and child as bash with the -c flag.
- Test 3Vulnerable vm2 Version Inventory Check
Expected signal: File read events for package.json files under node_modules/vm2/ paths. The find command execution and subsequent node invocations should appear in process telemetry.
References (5)
- https://github.com/patriksimek/vm2/security/advisories/GHSA-76w7-j9cq-rx2j
- https://github.com/patriksimek/vm2/commit/a462655009669c3124ee39498121651597529ea8
- https://github.com/patriksimek/vm2/releases/tag/v3.11.4
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-47208
- https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-76w7-j9cq-rx2j
Unlock Pro Content
Get the full detection package for CVE-2026-47208 including response playbook, investigation guide, and atomic red team tests.