n8n-io n8n Inline Sub-workflow privileges management

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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Current Exploit Price (≈)
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CTI Interest Score
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6.3$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in n8n-io n8n. It has been declared as critical. This vulnerability affects unknown code of the component Inline Sub-workflow. Such manipulation leads to privileges management. This vulnerability is referenced as CVE-2026-85166. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. No exploit is available.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in n8n-io n8n (version now known) and classified as critical. Affected by this issue is some unknown processing of the component Inline Sub-workflow. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a privileges management vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-269. The product does not properly assign, modify, track, or check privileges for an actor, creating an unintended sphere of control for that actor. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

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.

The advisory is available at github.com. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2026-85166 since 09/03/2026. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack may be launched remotely. The technical details are unknown and an exploit is not available. The structure of the vulnerability defines a possible price range of USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 09/13/2026). This vulnerability is assigned to T1068 by the MITRE ATT&CK project.

There is no information about possible countermeasures known. It may be suggested to replace the affected object with an alternative product.

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Productinfo

Vendor

Name

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CNA CVSS-B Score: 🔒
CNA CVSS-BT Score: 🔒
CNA Vector: 🔒

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 6.4
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.3

VulDB Base Score: 6.3
VulDB Temp Score: 6.1
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 6.5
NVD Vector: 🔒

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Privileges management
CWE: CWE-269 / CWE-266
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: no mitigation known
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Timelineinfo

09/03/2026 Advisory disclosed
09/03/2026 +0 days CVE reserved
09/03/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
09/13/2026 +10 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Product: github.com

Advisory: github.com
Status: Not defined

CVE: CVE-2026-85166 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-85166
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-398390

Entryinfo

Created: 09/03/2026 13:44
Updated: 09/13/2026 17:58
Changes: 09/03/2026 13:44 (64), 09/13/2026 17:58 (12)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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