Misuse of `Reference` and other transferable APIs may lead to access to nodejs isolate
Versions of isolated-vm before v4.0.0, and especially before v3.0.0, have API pitfalls which may make it easy for implementers to expose supposed secure isolates to the permissions of the main nodejs isolate.
Reference objects allow access to the underlying reference's full prototype chain. In an environment where the implementer has exposed a Reference instance to an attacker they would be able to use it to acquire a Reference to the nodejs context's Function object.
Similar application-specific attacks could be possible by modifying the local prototype of other API objects.
Access to NativeModule objects could allow an attacker to load and run native code from anywhere on the filesystem. If combined with, for example, a file upload API this would allow for arbitrary code execution.
To address these issues the following changes were made in v4.0.0:
- Documentation was updated with more explicit guidelines on building secure applications.
Referenceinstances will no longer follow prototype chains by default, nor will they invoke accessors or proxies.- All
isolated-vmAPI prototypes are now immutable. NativeModuleconstructor may only be invoked from a nodejs isolate.
Affected software
Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.
| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| npm package | isolated-vm | < 4.0.0 | 4.0.0 |
References
- https://github.com/laverdet/isolated-vm/security/advisories/GHSA-mmhj-4w6j-76h7
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-21413
- https://github.com/laverdet/isolated-vm/commit/2646e6c1558bac66285daeab54c7d490ed332b15
- https://github.com/laverdet/isolated-vm/commit/27151bfecc260e96714443613880e3b2e6596704
- https://github.com/laverdet/isolated-vm/blob/main/CHANGELOG.md#v400
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-913- Platform
- npm
- Package
isolated-vm- Disclosed
- 06.04.2021
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 10:22
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-mmhj-4w6j-76h7 - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: isolated-vm
All published vulnerabilities of this package (npm package), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
- Total entries
- 2
- First → latest
- 04.2021 09.2022
- Without a fix
- 0
- Exploited in attacks
- 0
Severity breakdown
- Critical 1
- High 1
Disclosures per year
- 2021: 1
- 2022: 1
- 2023: 0
- 2024: 0
- 2025: 0
- 2026: 0
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