External risk intelligence

ServiceNow AI Platform Sandbox Escape Vulnerability

CVE advisorySeverity: CRITICAL (CVSS 9.4)

CVE-2026-103093

The vulnerability involves a sandbox escape within the ServiceNow AI Platform, which requires the attacker to already possess an authenticated admin role. While the platform itself may be internet-accessible, the specific requirement for high-privileged authenticated access makes public exploitation unlikely in typical deployments, as the attack surface is restricted to existing administrative users.

Halo Surface Signal: 2 out of 5 — less likely to be public-facing.

External exposure likelihood

Horizon Alert

Summary of the vulnerability and why it matters

The ServiceNow AI Platform has a security issue that could allow an authenticated administrator to run unauthorized code on the system. ServiceNow has released updates to address this.

Admin bypass allows unauthorized code execution.
Confirms a potential, but unlikely, risk.
Verify platform relevance and exposure.

Attack Path

How an attacker could exploit the issue

An attacker with administrative privileges on a ServiceNow instance could bypass security restrictions within the AI platform's sandbox. This could allow them to execute arbitrary code on the underlying operating system, potentially leading to broader system compromise and unintended access.

Requires authenticated admin role.
Bypasses sandbox restrictions.
Enables arbitrary code execution.

Live Threat

Current exploitation, exposure, and threat context

This vulnerability could allow an authenticated administrator to escape the ServiceNow AI Platform's sandbox. When supported by the advisory, this may enable code execution on the host operating system, potentially leading to unintended access or control.

Admin role and host OS access are at risk.
Authenticated admin bypasses sandbox restrictions.
Potential for unintended system access.

Operational Fix

Recommended remediation, mitigation, and detection steps

The ServiceNow AI Platform's sandbox escape vulnerability requires an authenticated admin role to exploit. This means platform owners, in coordination with security and infrastructure teams, must first identify instances with administrative access, confirm their exposure, and then plan remediation. Coordination with ServiceNow or their partners is essential for self-hosted customers to apply updates.

Platform owners and security teams.
Verify admin access and instance reachability.
Coordinate updates with ServiceNow or partners.

Supplementary metadata

CVSS vector

Validate whether this threat affects your internet-facing exposure.

Halo Threat Intelligence helps prioritize remediation with Halo Surface Signal and H/A/L/O context. Start exposure validation with a free external attack surface trial.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the ServiceNow AI Platform?

The ServiceNow AI Platform is a specialized component within the broader ServiceNow ecosystem designed to facilitate artificial intelligence and machine learning tasks. It uses isolated environments, known as sandboxes, to safely execute code and process data, separating these AI operations from the main host operating system to maintain overall platform integrity.

How does CVE-2026-103093 impact the sandbox?

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-284, which relates to improper access control. In this context, it allows an authenticated user to escape the Rhino sandbox environment. By bypassing these intended security boundaries, an attacker gains the ability to execute unauthorized code directly on the underlying host operating system.

Do I need to be an administrator to trigger this?

Yes. This vulnerability requires an attacker to already possess an authenticated admin role within the ServiceNow instance to initiate the exploit. Simply interacting with the platform from an unprivileged or guest account is insufficient to trigger the sandbox escape or reach the underlying host OS.

Is my instance at risk according to Halo Surface Signal?

Halo Surface Signal indicates that public exploitation is unlikely for most organizations. While the platform might be accessible over the internet, the strict requirement for high-privileged administrative credentials significantly limits the practical attack surface to those who already hold significant power within your system.

How should I respond to this vulnerability?

Begin by identifying all ServiceNow instances managed by your organization. Confirm the administrative access levels currently in use. For hosted instances, ensure the latest updates are applied, and if you manage a self-hosted environment, coordinate immediately with ServiceNow or your official partners to verify and deploy the necessary security patches.

References

support.servicenow.com/kb?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB3228994

Written by Nicholas Merritt

Nicholas Merritt is VP of Security Solutions at Halo Security. With more than 25 years across application security, vulnerability prioritization, and offensive security, he helps teams translate threat data into practical exposure validation and remediation focus. He authors Halo Threat Intelligence CVE advisories using Halo Surface Signal and H/A/L/O context to prioritize internet-facing risk.