CVE-2026-105855: Payload Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-fx49-4h83-wjv9
CWE-284
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-105855 is a HIGH remote code execution vulnerability (CWE-284: Improper Access Control) affecting Payload libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves payload didn't enforce field-level password update restrictions. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 3.90.0, 4.0.0-canary.34.

CVE-2026-105855 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-105855
GHSA Identifier GHSA-fx49-4h83-wjv9
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-284: Improper Access Control
Affected Product Payload
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2026-105855

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-2026-105855, 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-284: Improper Access Control, where the product does not restrict or incorrectly restricts access to a resource from an unauthorized actor. 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 When an auth collection defined a field-level access.update restriction on the password field, the restriction was not enforced on the server correctly. ## Patches Users should upgrade Payload packages to `>= 3.90.0` or `>= 4.0.0-canary.34`.

CVE-2026-105855 Affected Payload Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
3.90.04.0.0-canary.34
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
payload
npm
< 3.90.0
3.90.0
payload
npm
≥ 4.0.0-canary.0
< 4.0.0-canary.34
4.0.0-canary.34

References

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-105855?
CVE-2026-105855 is a security vulnerability in Payload involving Payload didn't enforce field-level password update restrictions under CWE-284: Improper Access Control.
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-2026-105855?
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-2026-105855?
CVE-2026-105855 is classified under CWE-284: Improper Access Control (The product does not restrict or incorrectly restricts access to a resource from an unauthorized actor.).
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2026-105855?
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
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-fx49-4h83-wjv9",
  "modified" : "2026-10-06T16:21:52Z",
  "published" : "2026-10-06T16:21:52Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-105855" ],
  "summary" : "Payload didn't enforce field-level password update restrictions",
  "details" : "## Impact\n\nWhen an auth collection defined a field-level access.update restriction on the password field, the restriction was not enforced on the server correctly.\n\n## Patches\n\nUsers should upgrade Payload packages to `>= 3.90.0` or `>= 4.0.0-canary.34`.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "payload"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "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-fx49-4h83-wjv9"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/payloadcms/payload/commit/9de9e7911e29d60870a1d5480412524c63d6411e"
  }, {
    "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-284" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-10-06T16:21:52Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}