CVE-2026-105863: Payload Payload Authentication Token Field Handling Vulnerability

CRITICAL
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-66wr-7vmr-p5jq
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CWE-915 CWE-290
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-105863 is a CRITICAL payload authentication token field handling vulnerability (CWE-915: Improperly Controlled Modification of Dynamically-Determined Object Attributes) affecting Payload libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves payload authentication token field handling issue. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 3.90.0, 4.0.0-canary.34.

CVE-2026-105863 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-105863
GHSA Identifier GHSA-66wr-7vmr-p5jq
Severity CRITICAL
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-915: Improperly Controlled Modification of Dynamically-Determined Object Attributes
Affected Product Payload
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2026-105863

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-2026-105863, 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-915: Improperly Controlled Modification of Dynamically-Determined Object Attributes, where the product receives input from an upstream component that specifies multiple attributes, properties, or fields that are to be initialized or updated in an object, but it does not properly control which attributes can be modified. 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 Under certain field configurations, Payload could include unintended values in the authentication token issued at login. You are affected if: - You use an affected Payload version and have configured a custom field option that maps a field to a reserved authentication claim name. ### Patches Payload now restricts which field configuration options can influence the contents of the authentication token. Users should upgrade payload packages to `>= 3.90.0` or `>= 4.0.0-canary.34`. ### Workarounds There is no complete workaround. Users should upgrade payload packages to `>= 3.90.0` or `>= 4.0.0-canary.34`.

CVE-2026-105863 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-66wr-7vmr-p5jq
NVD — CVE-2026-105863 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-105863
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/payloadcms/payload/commit/56cd5cd050a57daebf33159e41e5ff9d4a45239c
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-2026-105863?
CVE-2026-105863 is a security vulnerability in Payload involving Payload authentication token field handling issue under CWE-915: Improperly Controlled Modification of Dynamically-Determined Object Attributes.
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-2026-105863?
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-2026-105863?
CVE-2026-105863 is classified under CWE-915: Improperly Controlled Modification of Dynamically-Determined Object Attributes (The product receives input from an upstream component that specifies multiple attributes, properties, or fields that are to be initialized or updated in an object, but it does not properly control which attributes can be modified.).
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2026-105863?
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-66wr-7vmr-p5jq",
  "modified" : "2026-10-07T20:28:18Z",
  "published" : "2026-10-07T20:28:18Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-105863" ],
  "summary" : "Payload authentication token field handling issue",
  "details" : "### Impact\n\nUnder certain field configurations, Payload could include unintended values in the authentication token issued at login.\n\nYou are affected if:\n\n- You use an affected Payload version and have configured a custom field option that maps a field to a reserved authentication claim name.\n\n### Patches\nPayload now restricts which field configuration options can influence the contents of the authentication token.\n\nUsers should upgrade payload packages to `>= 3.90.0` or `>= 4.0.0-canary.34`.\n\n### Workarounds\nThere is no complete workaround. Users 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:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/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-66wr-7vmr-p5jq"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-105863"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/payloadcms/payload/commit/56cd5cd050a57daebf33159e41e5ff9d4a45239c"
  }, {
    "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-290", "CWE-915" ],
    "severity" : "CRITICAL",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-10-07T20:28:18Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2026-10-06T17:17:22Z"
  }
}