CVE-2026-105844: Payload Prototype Pollution Vulnerability

CRITICAL
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-qf28-8hc6-vwrp
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CWE-1321
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-105844 is a CRITICAL prototype pollution vulnerability (CWE-1321: Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes ('Prototype Pollution')) affecting Payload libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves prototype pollution in payload import export plugin. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 3.88.0, 4.0.0-canary.27.

CVE-2026-105844 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-105844
GHSA Identifier GHSA-qf28-8hc6-vwrp
Severity CRITICAL
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-1321: Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes ('Prototype Pollution')
Affected Product Payload
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2026-105844

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.

@payloadcms/plugin-import-export fixed: 3.88.0 
npm install @payloadcms/plugin-import-export@3.88.0
@payloadcms/plugin-import-export fixed: 4.0.0-canary.27 
npm install @payloadcms/plugin-import-export@4.0.0-canary.27
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 @payloadcms/plugin-import-export

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Node.js application is affected by CVE-2026-105844, inspect your project dependencies using npm:

npm ls @payloadcms/plugin-import-export

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 3.88.0), your application is affected.

Note: The npm ls @payloadcms/plugin-import-export 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-1321: Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes ('Prototype Pollution'), where the product receives input from an upstream component that specifies attributes that are to be initialized or updated in an object, but it does not properly control modifications of attributes of the object prototype. 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 An unauthenticated user could cause unintended application behavior when the Import Export plugin is enabled, allowing an attacker to submit and execute remote code (RCE). Applications that do not use `@payloadcms/plugin-import-export` are not affected. ### Patches Users should upgrade Payload packages to `>= 3.88.0` or `>= 4.0.0-canary.27.` ### Workarounds Upgrading is recommended. Until then, disable the Import Export plugin or restrict access to its endpoints.

CVE-2026-105844 Affected Payload Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
3.88.04.0.0-canary.27
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
@payloadcms/plugin-import-export
npm/@payloadcms/plugin-import-export
npm
≥ 3.0.0
< 3.88.0
3.88.0
@payloadcms/plugin-import-export
npm/@payloadcms/plugin-import-export
npm
≥ 4.0.0-canary.0
< 4.0.0-canary.27
4.0.0-canary.27

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/payloadcms/payload/security/advisories/GHSA-qf28-8hc6-vwrp
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/payloadcms/payload/commit/a742140ab4fca3160f7f83e9e7d996552ffc3b5a
Payload Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/payloadcms/payload
Payload Release RELEASE
https://github.com/payloadcms/payload/releases/tag/v3.88.0

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-105844?
CVE-2026-105844 is a security vulnerability in Payload involving Prototype pollution in Payload Import Export plugin under CWE-1321: Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes ('Prototype Pollution').
Which Payload versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 3.88.0, 4.0.0-canary.27 across affected packages: @payloadcms/plugin-import-export.
What version fixes CVE-2026-105844?
Upgrading to 3.88.0, 4.0.0-canary.27 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is @payloadcms/plugin-import-export affected?
Yes, @payloadcms/plugin-import-export is affected in releases prior to 3.88.0, 4.0.0-canary.27. Upgrade your dependency to 3.88.0, 4.0.0-canary.27 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-105844?
CVE-2026-105844 is classified under CWE-1321: Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes ('Prototype Pollution') (The product receives input from an upstream component that specifies attributes that are to be initialized or updated in an object, but it does not properly control modifications of attributes of the object prototype.).
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2026-105844?
Run the dependency tree command: 'npm ls @payloadcms/plugin-import-export'. 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-qf28-8hc6-vwrp",
  "modified" : "2026-10-06T16:09:23Z",
  "published" : "2026-10-06T16:09:23Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-105844" ],
  "summary" : "Payload: Prototype pollution in Payload Import Export plugin",
  "details" : "### Impact\nAn unauthenticated user could cause unintended application behavior when the Import Export plugin is enabled, allowing an attacker to submit and execute remote code (RCE).\n\nApplications that do not use `@payloadcms/plugin-import-export` are not affected.\n\n### Patches\nUsers should upgrade Payload packages to `>= 3.88.0` or `>= 4.0.0-canary.27.`\n\n### Workarounds\nUpgrading is recommended. Until then, disable the Import Export plugin or restrict access to its endpoints.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "@payloadcms/plugin-import-export"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "3.0.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "3.88.0"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "@payloadcms/plugin-import-export"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "4.0.0-canary.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "4.0.0-canary.27"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/payloadcms/payload/security/advisories/GHSA-qf28-8hc6-vwrp"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/payloadcms/payload/commit/a742140ab4fca3160f7f83e9e7d996552ffc3b5a"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/payloadcms/payload"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/payloadcms/payload/releases/tag/v3.88.0"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-1321" ],
    "severity" : "CRITICAL",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-10-06T16:09:23Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}