CVE-2026-105804: Payload Password Hashes Use Insufficient PBKDF2 Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-q6mq-ch85-c8mm
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CWE-916
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-105804 is a MODERATE password hashes use insufficient pbkdf2 vulnerability (CWE-916: Use of Password Hash With Insufficient Computational Effort) affecting Payload libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves password hashes use insufficient pbkdf2 iterations. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 3.90.0, 4.0.0-canary.34.

CVE-2026-105804 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-105804
GHSA Identifier GHSA-q6mq-ch85-c8mm
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-916: Use of Password Hash With Insufficient Computational Effort
Affected Product Payload
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2026-105804

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-2026-105804, 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-916: Use of Password Hash With Insufficient Computational Effort, where the product generates a hash for a password, but it uses a scheme that does not provide a sufficient level of computational effort that would make password cracking attacks infeasible or expensive. 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 The password-hashing configuration used a lower work factor than what is recommended. ### Patches Payload now uses stronger password-hashing parameters and transparently upgrades older hashes following a successful login. Users should upgrade Payload packages to `>= 3.90.0` or `>= 4.0.0-canary.34`. ### Workarounds Upgrading is recommended. Until you can upgrade, protect database copies and backups from unauthorized access and require strong, unique passwords.

CVE-2026-105804 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-q6mq-ch85-c8mm
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/payloadcms/payload/commit/1bc76e540a10f3ec88340f40591a57dae7456d01
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-2026-105804?
CVE-2026-105804 is a security vulnerability in Payload involving Password hashes use insufficient PBKDF2 iterations under CWE-916: Use of Password Hash With Insufficient Computational Effort.
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-2026-105804?
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-2026-105804?
CVE-2026-105804 is classified under CWE-916: Use of Password Hash With Insufficient Computational Effort (The product generates a hash for a password, but it uses a scheme that does not provide a sufficient level of computational effort that would make password cracking attacks infeasible or expensive.).
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2026-105804?
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-q6mq-ch85-c8mm",
  "modified" : "2026-10-06T15:38:37Z",
  "published" : "2026-10-06T15:38:37Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-105804" ],
  "summary" : "Payload: Password hashes use insufficient PBKDF2 iterations",
  "details" : "### Impact\nThe password-hashing configuration used a lower work factor than what is recommended.\n\n### Patches\nPayload now uses stronger password-hashing parameters and transparently upgrades older hashes following a successful login.\n\nUsers should upgrade Payload packages to `>= 3.90.0` or `>= 4.0.0-canary.34`.\n\n### Workarounds\nUpgrading is recommended. Until you can upgrade, protect database copies and backups from unauthorized access and require strong, unique passwords.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:H/AT:P/PR:H/UI:N/VC:H/VI:L/VA:N/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-q6mq-ch85-c8mm"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/payloadcms/payload/commit/1bc76e540a10f3ec88340f40591a57dae7456d01"
  }, {
    "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-916" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-10-06T15:38:37Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}