CVE-2026-42227: N8n N8n Has Public API Variables Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-756q-gq9h-fp22
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CVSS 7.7
CWE-639
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-42227 is a MODERATE (CVSS 7.7) n8n has public api variables vulnerability (CWE-639: Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key) affecting N8n libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves n8n has public api variables idor that allows cross-project secret disclosure. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.123.32, 2.18.1, 2.17.4.

CVE-2026-42227 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-42227
GHSA Identifier GHSA-756q-gq9h-fp22
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 7.7
CWE Classification CWE-639: Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key
Affected Product N8n
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 7.7

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required Low (PR:L)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Changed (S:C)
Confidentiality High (C:H)
Integrity None (I:N)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2026-42227

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected N8n dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

n8n fixed: 1.123.32 
npm install n8n@1.123.32
n8n fixed: 2.18.1 
npm install n8n@2.18.1
n8n fixed: 2.17.4 
npm install n8n@2.17.4
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 n8n

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Node.js application is affected by CVE-2026-42227, inspect your project dependencies using npm:

npm ls n8n

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of N8n in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 1.123.32), your application is affected.

Note: The npm ls n8n 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-639: Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key, where the system's authorization functionality does not prevent one user from gaining access to another user's data or record by modifying the key value identifying the data. In N8n, 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 An authenticated user with a valid API key scoped to `variable:list` could read variables from projects they are not a member of by supplying an arbitrary `projectId` query parameter to the public API variables endpoint. The handler queried the variables repository directly without enforcing project membership checks, bypassing the authorization-aware service layer used by the internal enterprise controller. If variables were misused to store sensitive information such as credentials or tokens, they should be rotated immediately. This issue only affects licensed enterprise or team deployments with multiple projects and the variables feature enabled. ## Patches The issue has been fixed in n8n versions 1.123.32, 2.17.4, and 2.18.1. Users should upgrade to one of these versions or later to remediate the vulnerability. ## Workarounds If upgrading is not immediately possible, administrators should consider the following temporary mitigations: - Restrict n8n access and API key issuance to fully trusted users only. - Audit existing project variables for sensitive values and rotate any secrets that may have been exposed. These workarounds do not fully remediate the risk and should only be used as short-term mitigation measures.

CVE-2026-42227 Affected N8n Versions

3 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
1.123.322.18.12.17.4
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
n8n
npm/n8n
npm
< 1.123.32
1.123.32
n8n
npm/n8n
npm
≥ 2.18.0
< 2.18.1
2.18.1
n8n
npm/n8n
npm
≥ 2.0.0
< 2.17.4
2.17.4

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n/security/advisories/GHSA-756q-gq9h-fp22
NVD — CVE-2026-42227 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-42227
N8n Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-42227?
CVE-2026-42227 is a security vulnerability in N8n involving n8n has Public API Variables IDOR that Allows Cross-Project Secret Disclosure under CWE-639: Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key.
Which N8n versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 1.123.32, 2.18.1, 2.17.4 across affected packages: n8n.
What version fixes CVE-2026-42227?
Upgrading to 1.123.32, 2.18.1, 2.17.4 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is n8n affected?
Yes, n8n is affected in releases prior to 1.123.32, 2.18.1, 2.17.4. Upgrade your dependency to 1.123.32, 2.18.1, 2.17.4 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-42227?
CVE-2026-42227 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.7 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-42227?
CVE-2026-42227 is classified under CWE-639: Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key (The system's authorization functionality does not prevent one user from gaining access to another user's data or record by modifying the key value identifying the data.).
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2026-42227?
Run the dependency tree command: 'npm ls n8n'. 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-756q-gq9h-fp22",
  "modified" : "2026-05-08T01:31:18Z",
  "published" : "2026-04-29T21:21:00Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-42227" ],
  "summary" : "n8n has Public API Variables IDOR that Allows Cross-Project Secret Disclosure",
  "details" : "## Impact\nAn authenticated user with a valid API key scoped to `variable:list` could read variables from projects they are not a member of by supplying an arbitrary `projectId` query parameter to the public API variables endpoint. The handler queried the variables repository directly without enforcing project membership checks, bypassing the authorization-aware service layer used by the internal enterprise controller. \n\nIf variables were misused to store sensitive information such as credentials or tokens, they should be rotated immediately.\n\nThis issue only affects licensed enterprise or team deployments with multiple projects and the variables feature enabled.\n\n## Patches\nThe issue has been fixed in n8n versions 1.123.32, 2.17.4, and 2.18.1. Users should upgrade to one of these versions or later to remediate the vulnerability.\n\n## Workarounds\nIf upgrading is not immediately possible, administrators should consider the following temporary mitigations:\n\n- Restrict n8n access and API key issuance to fully trusted users only.\n- Audit existing project variables for sensitive values and rotate any secrets that may have been exposed.\n\nThese workarounds do not fully remediate the risk and should only be used as short-term mitigation measures.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N"
  }, {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "n8n"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.123.32"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "n8n"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "2.18.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.18.1"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "n8n"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "2.0.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.17.4"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n/security/advisories/GHSA-756q-gq9h-fp22"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-42227"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-639" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-04-29T21:21:00Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2026-05-04T19:16:04Z"
  }
}