CVE-2026-59259: n8n External Secrets Permission Bypass Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-jp7m-xcgx-57qm
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CWE-639
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-59259 is a MODERATE external secrets permission bypass vulnerability (CWE-639: Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key) affecting n8n libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves external secrets permission bypass via expression parser mismatch. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.123.61, 2.28.1, 2.27.4.

CVE-2026-59259 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-59259
GHSA Identifier GHSA-jp7m-xcgx-57qm
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-639: Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key
Affected Product n8n
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2026-59259

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: 1.123.61 
npm install n8n@1.123.61
n8n fixed: 2.28.1 
npm install n8n@2.28.1
n8n fixed: 2.27.4 
npm install n8n@2.27.4
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-2026-59259, 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 1.123.61), 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 Due to a mismatch between the static validation check and the runtime expression engine, an authenticated user with credential create or update permissions, but without the `externalSecret:list` scope, could embed external secret references into credentials in forms the validation did not detect. These references would resolve at workflow execution time, exposing secret values the user was not authorized to access. This issue only affects instances where an external secrets provider is configured and Advanced Permissions are in use. ## Patches The issue has been fixed in n8n versions 1.123.61, 2.27.4, and 2.28.1. 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 credential creation and update permissions to fully trusted users only. - Audit existing credentials for unexpected external secret references. These workarounds do not fully remediate the risk and should only be used as short-term mitigation measures.

CVE-2026-59259 Affected n8n Versions

3 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
1.123.612.28.12.27.4
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
n8n
npm/n8n
npm
< 1.123.61
1.123.61
n8n
npm/n8n
npm
≥ 2.28.0
< 2.28.1
2.28.1
n8n
npm/n8n
npm
≥ 2.0.0-rc.0
< 2.27.4
2.27.4

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n/security/advisories/GHSA-jp7m-xcgx-57qm
NVD — CVE-2026-59259 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-59259
n8n Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n
n8n Release RELEASE
https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n/releases/tag/n8n@1.123.61
n8n Release RELEASE
https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n/releases/tag/n8n@2.27.4
n8n Release RELEASE
https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n/releases/tag/n8n@2.28.1
www.vulncheck.com/advisories/n8n-perm... WEB
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/n8n-permission-bypass-via-expression-parser-mismatch-in-external-secrets

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-59259?
CVE-2026-59259 is a security vulnerability in n8n involving External Secrets Permission Bypass via Expression Parser Mismatch under CWE-639: Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key.
Which n8n versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 1.123.61, 2.28.1, 2.27.4 across affected packages: n8n.
What version fixes CVE-2026-59259?
Upgrading to 1.123.61, 2.28.1, 2.27.4 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is n8n affected?
Yes, n8n is affected in releases prior to 1.123.61, 2.28.1, 2.27.4. Upgrade your dependency to 1.123.61, 2.28.1, 2.27.4 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-59259?
CVE-2026-59259 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-2026-59259?
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-jp7m-xcgx-57qm",
  "modified" : "2026-07-22T22:21:20Z",
  "published" : "2026-07-22T22:21:20Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-59259" ],
  "summary" : "n8n: External Secrets Permission Bypass via Expression Parser Mismatch",
  "details" : "## Impact\nDue to a mismatch between the static validation check and the runtime expression engine, an authenticated user with credential create or update permissions, but without the `externalSecret:list` scope, could embed external secret references into credentials in forms the validation did not detect. These references would resolve at workflow execution time, exposing secret values the user was not authorized to access.\n\nThis issue only affects instances where an external secrets provider is configured and Advanced Permissions are in use.\n\n## Patches\nThe issue has been fixed in n8n versions 1.123.61, 2.27.4, and 2.28.1. 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- Restrict credential creation and update permissions to fully trusted users only.\n- Audit existing credentials for unexpected external secret references.\n\nThese workarounds do not fully remediate the risk and should only be used as short-term mitigation measures.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "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" : "1.123.61"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "n8n"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "2.28.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.28.1"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "n8n"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "2.0.0-rc.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.27.4"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n/security/advisories/GHSA-jp7m-xcgx-57qm"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-59259"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n/releases/tag/n8n@1.123.61"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n/releases/tag/n8n@2.27.4"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n/releases/tag/n8n@2.28.1"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/n8n-permission-bypass-via-expression-parser-mismatch-in-external-secrets"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-639" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-07-22T22:21:20Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}