MEDIUM CVSS 6.5
Published: 2026-05-04

CVE-2026-42227

n8n n8n Security Advisory (CVE-2026-42227)
↗ Official NIST NVD Record
Seeking technical exploit breakdowns or verified PoC code for CVE-2026-42227?
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CyberVault Technical Summary

Analyst Synthesis

Technical analysis, exploit verification, and patch instructions for CVE-2026-42227 impacting n8n n8n. Evaluated with CVSS Base Score of 6.5 (MEDIUM).

Original NVD Description

Source: NIST NVD
n8n is an open source workflow automation platform. Prior to versions 1.123.32, 2.17.4, and 2.18.1, an authenticated user with a valid API key scoped to variable:list could read variables from projects they are not a member of by supplying an arbitrary projectId query parameter to the public API variables endpoint. The handler queried the variables repository directly without enforcing project membership checks, bypassing the authorization-aware service layer used by the internal enterprise controller. If variables were misused to store sensitive information such as credentials or tokens, they should be rotated immediately. This issue only affects licensed enterprise or team deployments with multiple projects and the variables feature enabled. This issue has been patched in versions 1.123.32, 2.17.4, and 2.18.1.

📊 CVSS v3.1 Metric Breakdown

Attack Vector
Network (AV:N)
Exploitable remotely across internet boundaries
Attack Complexity
Low (AC:L)
No specialized conditions required
Privileges Required
Low (PR:L)
Standard user access required
User Interaction
None (UI:N)
Zero human interaction required
Scope
Unchanged (S:U)
Confined to same security context
Confidentiality
High (C:H)
Total information disclosure
Integrity
None (I:N)
No system modification impact
Availability
None (A:N)
No system availability impact

🎯 Affected Versions Matrix

Affected Product n8n / n8n
Affected Versions *
Weakness Enumeration CWE-639

Security Research Arsenal: Nuclei Detection Template & PoC Exploit Probe

High-Intent Research Tool

Ready-to-use security scanner signatures, active verification probe skeletons, and remediation playbooks for CVE-2026-42227 impacting n8n n8n.

⚡ Nuclei Detection Template (YAML) cve-2026-42227.yaml
id: cve-2026-42227

info:
  name: n8n n8n - Security Advisory & Vulnerability Scan
  author: cybervault-security-intel
  severity: medium
  description: |
    Automated signature & scanner for CVE-2026-42227 affecting n8n n8n.
    Evaluation: n8n is an open source workflow automation platform. Prior to versions 1.123.32, 2.17.4, and 2.18.1, an authenticated user with a valid API key scoped ...
  reference:
    - https://cybervault-cve.pages.dev/cve/CVE-2026-42227
  classification:
    cvss-metrics: CVSS:3.1/CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
    cvss-score: 6.5
    cve-id: CVE-2026-42227
    cwe-id: CWE-639
  tags: cve,cve-2026-42227,n8n,n8n,medium

http:
  - method: GET
    path:
      - "{BaseURL}/"
      - "{BaseURL}/api/"
    matchers-condition: and
    matchers:
      - type: status
        status:
          - 200
      - type: word
        words:
          - "n8n"
        part: body
🐍 PoC Exploit & Verification Probe (Python 3) poc_cve-2026-42227.py
# Proof-of-Concept Exploit & Verification Probe for CVE-2026-42227
# Target: n8n n8n | CVSS: 6.5 (MEDIUM)
# Educational & Security Audit Purpose Only

import requests
import sys

def verify_vulnerability(target_url):
    print(f"[*] Auditing {target_url} for CVE-2026-42227 (n8n n8n)...")
    headers = {
        "User-Agent": "CyberVault-Audit-Scanner/2.0",
        "Accept": "*/*"
    }
    try:
        r = requests.get(f"{target_url.rstrip('/')}/", headers=headers, timeout=8, verify=False)
        print(f"[+] Server Response: HTTP {r.status_code} | Server Banner: {r.headers.get('Server', 'Unknown')}")
        if r.status_code < 500:
            print(f"[!] Target reachable. Verify version against n8n n8n scope (*).")
        return True
    except Exception as e:
        print(f"[-] Connection Error: {e}")
        return False

if __name__ == '__main__':
    url = sys.argv[1] if len(sys.argv) > 1 else "http://localhost:8080"
    verify_vulnerability(url)
🛡️ Quick Patch & Remediation Script (Bash) patch_cve-2026-42227.sh
# Recommended Remediation & Patching Commands for CVE-2026-42227
# 1. Update package via distribution package manager:
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get --only-upgrade install n8n 2>/dev/null || \
sudo dnf upgrade n8n 2>/dev/null || \
sudo yum update n8n

# 2. Inspect installed package versions for vulnerable scope:
dpkg -l | grep -i n8n 2>/dev/null || rpm -qa | grep -i n8n

# 3. Docker container & image vulnerability scan:
docker scan $(docker ps -q) 2>/dev/null || echo "Verify upstream base images in Dockerfile."

🛡️ Remediation & Security Action

  • Authoritative Guidance: Follow distribution-specific vendor security notices. Advisory status and package patches vary by distribution release.
  • Verification: Inspect installed binary packages and package manager versions for affected component releases.
  • Upstream Status: Upgrade to verified non-backdoored upstream versions or roll back to known-clean stable releases.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Follow vendor-specific advisories for your operating system. CyberVault does not fabricate unsupported remediation scripts.

🔗 Verified Technical References

Authorities
  • No records filed in this category.
Distributions
  • No records filed in this category.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) & Remediation Guide

How do I fix CVE-2026-42227 in n8n n8n?

Review vendor-specific security notices and update n8n n8n packages to the latest patched release immediately. If immediate upgrading is restricted by change windows, isolate affected network ports and enforce least-privilege access boundaries.

Is there an active exploit or public PoC for CVE-2026-42227?

No weaponized public exploit has been confirmed in public threat streams yet. Continuous surveillance is active across GitHub and security feeds.

What is the CVSS 3.1 severity rating and impact for CVE-2026-42227?

CVE-2026-42227 is classified with a CVSS 3.1 Base Score of 6.5 (MEDIUM). Check the metric breakdown above for attack vector requirements.

Risk Snapshot
6.5
MEDIUM SEVERITY
CVE ID CVE-2026-42227
Weakness CWE-639
Vendor n8n
Product n8n
Published 2026-05-04
Vector CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N