CVE-2026-105849: Payload Payload Vulnerable To API Key Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-238x-w2j9-gwwr
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CWE-862 CWE-201
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-105849 is a HIGH payload vulnerable to api key vulnerability (CWE-862: Missing Authorization) affecting Payload libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves payload vulnerable to api key disclosure through ordinary document reads. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 3.90.0, 4.0.0-canary.34.

CVE-2026-105849 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-105849
GHSA Identifier GHSA-238x-w2j9-gwwr
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-862: Missing Authorization
Affected Product Payload
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2026-105849

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Payload dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

payload fixed: 3.90.0 
npm install payload@3.90.0
payload fixed: 4.0.0-canary.34 
npm install payload@4.0.0-canary.34
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

npm ls payload

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Node.js application is affected by CVE-2026-105849, inspect your project dependencies using npm:

npm ls payload

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Payload in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 3.90.0), your application is affected.

Note: The npm ls payload command inspects dependencies declared in your package.json and lockfile; it does not perform automated runtime dynamic scanning.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-862: Missing Authorization, where the product does not perform an authorization check when an actor attempts to access a resource or perform an action. In Payload, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

### Impact Users with read access to other user documents could access their active API keys. An exposed key grants the target account’s permissions until rotated or disabled. You are affected if: - An authentication collection enables `useAPIKey`. - Users have read access to other user documents containing active API keys. ### Patches Users should upgrade payload packages to `>= 3.90.0` or `>= 4.0.0-canary.34`. ### Workarounds Disable `useAPIKey` or restrict users to reading only their own authentication document. Rotate any API key that may have been exposed.

CVE-2026-105849 Affected Payload Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
3.90.04.0.0-canary.34
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
payload
npm/payload
npm
≥ 3.0.0
< 3.90.0
3.90.0
payload
npm/payload
npm
≥ 4.0.0-canary.0
< 4.0.0-canary.34
4.0.0-canary.34

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/payloadcms/payload/security/advisories/GHSA-238x-w2j9-gwwr
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/payloadcms/payload/commit/880d2e900be22cd66a9e939f2b3e702fa413180f
Payload Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/payloadcms/payload
Payload Release RELEASE
https://github.com/payloadcms/payload/releases/tag/v3.90.0

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-105849?
CVE-2026-105849 is a security vulnerability in Payload involving Payload vulnerable to API key disclosure through ordinary document reads under CWE-862: Missing Authorization.
Which Payload versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 3.90.0, 4.0.0-canary.34 across affected packages: payload.
What version fixes CVE-2026-105849?
Upgrading to 3.90.0, 4.0.0-canary.34 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is payload affected?
Yes, payload is affected in releases prior to 3.90.0, 4.0.0-canary.34. Upgrade your dependency to 3.90.0, 4.0.0-canary.34 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-105849?
CVE-2026-105849 is classified under CWE-862: Missing Authorization (The product does not perform an authorization check when an actor attempts to access a resource or perform an action.).
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2026-105849?
Run the dependency tree command: 'npm ls payload'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-238x-w2j9-gwwr",
  "modified" : "2026-10-06T16:18:16Z",
  "published" : "2026-10-06T16:18:16Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-105849" ],
  "summary" : "Payload vulnerable to API key disclosure through ordinary document reads",
  "details" : "### Impact\n\nUsers with read access to other user documents could access their active API keys. An exposed key grants the target account’s permissions until rotated or disabled.\n\nYou are affected if:\n\n- An authentication collection enables `useAPIKey`.\n- Users have read access to other user documents containing active API keys.\n\n### Patches\n\nUsers should upgrade payload packages to `>= 3.90.0` or `>= 4.0.0-canary.34`.\n\n### Workarounds\n\nDisable `useAPIKey` or restrict users to reading only their own authentication document. Rotate any API key that may have been exposed.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "payload"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "3.0.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "3.90.0"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "payload"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "4.0.0-canary.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "4.0.0-canary.34"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/payloadcms/payload/security/advisories/GHSA-238x-w2j9-gwwr"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/payloadcms/payload/commit/880d2e900be22cd66a9e939f2b3e702fa413180f"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/payloadcms/payload"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/payloadcms/payload/releases/tag/v3.90.0"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-201", "CWE-862" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-10-06T16:18:16Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}