CVE-2026-85166
Full vulnerability record from the local CVENow database.
Description
n8n before 2.35.4 and 2.36.x before 2.36.2 does not validate credential references in the inline workflow JSON of nodes that execute an inline sub-workflow (e.g., the Workflow Tool node). A shared-workflow editor, or any user creating/updating a workflow via the REST API, Public API, or MCP, can persist a node referencing a credential they do not own. When the workflow is later executed under an identity that holds the credential, the inline sub-workflow resolves the secret and can send it to an attacker-controlled endpoint, resulting in credential exfiltration.
Severity
HIGH
CVSS score
7.2
(v4.0)
Vulnerability status
Analyzed
Source identifier
Published
2026-09-03 13:06:23.867000
Last modified
2026-10-29 21:17:33.903000
View original CVE JSON
{
"id": "CVE-2026-85166",
"sourceIdentifier": "[email protected]",
"published": "2026-09-03T13:06:23.867",
"lastModified": "2026-10-29T21:17:33.903",
"vulnStatus": "Analyzed",
"cveTags": [],
"descriptions": [
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "n8n before 2.35.4 and 2.36.x before 2.36.2 does not validate credential references in the inline workflow JSON of nodes that execute an inline sub-workflow (e.g., the Workflow Tool node). A shared-workflow editor, or any user creating/updating a workflow via the REST API, Public API, or MCP, can persist a node referencing a credential they do not own. When the workflow is later executed under an identity that holds the credential, the inline sub-workflow resolves the secret and can send it to an attacker-controlled endpoint, resulting in credential exfiltration."
}
],
"affected": [
{
"source": "[email protected]",
"affectedData": [
{
"vendor": "n8n-io",
"product": "n8n",
"defaultStatus": "unaffected",
"packageURL": "pkg:npm/n8n",
"versions": [
{
"version": "2.36.0",
"lessThan": "2.36.2",
"versionType": "semver",
"status": "affected"
},
{
"version": "2.36.2",
"versionType": "semver",
"status": "unaffected"
}
]
},
{
"vendor": "n8n-io",
"product": "n8n",
"defaultStatus": "unaffected",
"packageURL": "pkg:npm/n8n",
"versions": [
{
"version": "0",
"lessThan": "2.35.4",
"versionType": "semver",
"status": "affected"
},
{
"version": "2.35.4",
"versionType": "semver",
"status": "unaffected"
}
]
}
]
}
],
"metrics": {
"cvssMetricV40": [
{
"source": "[email protected]",
"type": "Secondary",
"cvssData": {
"version": "4.0",
"vectorString": "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:H/SI:H/SA:L/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X",
"baseScore": 7.2,
"baseSeverity": "HIGH",
"attackVector": "NETWORK",
"attackComplexity": "LOW",
"attackRequirements": "PRESENT",
"privilegesRequired": "LOW",
"userInteraction": "NONE",
"vulnConfidentialityImpact": "HIGH",
"vulnIntegrityImpact": "NONE",
"vulnAvailabilityImpact": "NONE",
"subConfidentialityImpact": "HIGH",
"subIntegrityImpact": "HIGH",
"subAvailabilityImpact": "LOW",
"exploitMaturity": "NOT_DEFINED",
"confidentialityRequirement": "NOT_DEFINED",
"integrityRequirement": "NOT_DEFINED",
"availabilityRequirement": "NOT_DEFINED",
"modifiedAttackVector": "NOT_DEFINED",
"modifiedAttackComplexity": "NOT_DEFINED",
"modifiedAttackRequirements": "NOT_DEFINED",
"modifiedPrivilegesRequired": "NOT_DEFINED",
"modifiedUserInteraction": "NOT_DEFINED",
"modifiedVulnConfidentialityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED",
"modifiedVulnIntegrityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED",
"modifiedVulnAvailabilityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED",
"modifiedSubConfidentialityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED",
"modifiedSubIntegrityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED",
"modifiedSubAvailabilityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED",
"Safety": "NOT_DEFINED",
"Automatable": "NOT_DEFINED",
"Recovery": "NOT_DEFINED",
"valueDensity": "NOT_DEFINED",
"vulnerabilityResponseEffort": "NOT_DEFINED",
"providerUrgency": "NOT_DEFINED"
}
}
],
"cvssMetricV31": [
{
"source": "[email protected]",
"type": "Primary",
"cvssData": {
"version": "3.1",
"vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N",
"baseScore": 6.5,
"baseSeverity": "MEDIUM",
"attackVector": "NETWORK",
"attackComplexity": "LOW",
"privilegesRequired": "LOW",
"userInteraction": "NONE",
"scope": "UNCHANGED",
"confidentialityImpact": "HIGH",
"integrityImpact": "NONE",
"availabilityImpact": "NONE"
},
"exploitabilityScore": 2.8,
"impactScore": 3.6
}
],
"ssvcV203": [
{
"source": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
"ssvcData": {
"timestamp": "2026-09-03T14:05:57.164569Z",
"id": "CVE-2026-85166",
"options": [
{
"exploitation": "none"
},
{
"automatable": "no"
},
{
"technicalImpact": "partial"
}
],
"role": "CISA Coordinator",
"version": "2.0.3"
}
}
]
},
"weaknesses": [
{
"source": "[email protected]",
"type": "Secondary",
"description": [
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "CWE-863"
}
]
}
],
"configurations": [
{
"nodes": [
{
"operator": "OR",
"negate": false,
"cpeMatch": [
{
"vulnerable": true,
"criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:n8n:n8n:*:*:*:*:*:node.js:*:*",
"versionEndExcluding": "2.35.4",
"matchCriteriaId": "C64146A0-3448-4BDA-BC21-F23B0BCAAF35"
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}
],
"references": [
{
"url": "https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n/security/advisories/GHSA-4r56-g65c-fm83",
"source": "[email protected]",
"tags": [
"Mitigation",
"Vendor Advisory"
]
},
{
"url": "https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/n8n-before-2.36.2-credential-exfiltration-via-workflow-tool-node",
"source": "[email protected]",
"tags": [
"Third Party Advisory"
]
}
]
}