CVE-2026-25574: Payload Payload-preferences Has Cross-Collection IDOR Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-jq29-r496-r955
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CVSS 5.4
CWE-639
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-25574 is a MODERATE (CVSS 5.4) payload-preferences has cross-collection idor vulnerability (CWE-639: Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key) affecting Payload libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves payload-preferences has cross-collection idor in access control (multi-auth environments). Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 3.74.0.

CVE-2026-25574 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-25574
GHSA Identifier GHSA-jq29-r496-r955
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 5.4
CWE Classification CWE-639: Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key
Affected Product Payload
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 5.4

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:U/C:L/I:L/A:N).

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

How to Fix CVE-2026-25574

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: 3.74.0 
npm install payload@3.74.0
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-2026-25574, 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 3.74.0), 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-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 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 A cross-collection Insecure Direct Object Reference (IDOR) vulnerability exists in the `payload-preferences` internal collection. In multi-auth collection environments using Postgres or SQLite with default serial/auto-increment IDs, authenticated users from one auth collection can read and delete preferences belonging to users in different auth collections when their numeric IDs collide. **Users are affected if ALL of these are true:** - Multiple auth collections configured (e.g., `admins` + `customers`) - Postgres or SQLite database adapter with serial/auto-increment IDs - Users in different auth collections with the same numeric ID **Not affected:** - `@payloadcms/db-mongodb` adapter - Single auth collection environments - Postgres/SQLite with `idType: 'uuid'` ### Patches This vulnerability has been patched in **v3.74.0**. Users should upgrade to v3.74.0 or later. ### Workarounds There is no workaround other than upgrading. Users with multiple auth collections using Postgres or SQLite with serial IDs should upgrade immediately.

CVE-2026-25574 Affected Payload Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
3.74.0
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
payload
npm/payload
npm
< 3.74.0
3.74.0

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/payloadcms/payload/security/advisories/GHSA-jq29-r496-r955
NVD — CVE-2026-25574 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-25574
Payload Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/payloadcms/payload

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-25574?
CVE-2026-25574 is a security vulnerability in Payload involving payload-preferences has Cross-Collection IDOR in Access Control (Multi-Auth Environments) under CWE-639: Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key.
Which Payload versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 3.74.0 across affected packages: payload.
What version fixes CVE-2026-25574?
Upgrading to 3.74.0 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is payload affected?
Yes, payload is affected in releases prior to 3.74.0. Upgrade your dependency to 3.74.0 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-25574?
CVE-2026-25574 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.4 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-25574?
CVE-2026-25574 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-2026-25574?
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-jq29-r496-r955",
  "modified" : "2026-02-07T00:31:54Z",
  "published" : "2026-02-05T21:02:20Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-25574" ],
  "summary" : "payload-preferences has Cross-Collection IDOR in Access Control (Multi-Auth Environments)",
  "details" : "### Impact\n\nA cross-collection Insecure Direct Object Reference (IDOR) vulnerability exists in the `payload-preferences` internal collection. In multi-auth collection environments using Postgres or SQLite with default serial/auto-increment IDs, authenticated users from one auth collection can read and delete preferences belonging to users in different auth collections when their numeric IDs collide.\n\n**Users are affected if ALL of these are true:**\n\n- Multiple auth collections configured (e.g., `admins` + `customers`)\n- Postgres or SQLite database adapter with serial/auto-increment IDs\n- Users in different auth collections with the same numeric ID\n\n**Not affected:**\n\n- `@payloadcms/db-mongodb` adapter\n- Single auth collection environments\n- Postgres/SQLite with `idType: 'uuid'`\n\n### Patches\n\nThis vulnerability has been patched in **v3.74.0**. Users should upgrade to v3.74.0 or later.\n\n### Workarounds\n\nThere is no workaround other than upgrading. Users with multiple auth collections using Postgres or SQLite with serial IDs should upgrade immediately.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "payload"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "3.74.0"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/payloadcms/payload/security/advisories/GHSA-jq29-r496-r955"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-25574"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/payloadcms/payload"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-639" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-02-05T21:02:20Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2026-02-06T22:16:11Z"
  }
}