n8n before versions 1.123.61, 2.27.4, and 2.28.1 contains a permission bypass vulnerability in external secrets handling caused by a mismatch between the static validation check and the runtime expression engine. An authenticated user with credential create or update permissions but without the externalSecret:list scope can embed external secret references into credentials in forms the static validation does not detect; these references resolve at workflow execution time, exposing secret values the user is not authorized to access. This issue only affects instances where an external secrets provider is configured and Advanced Permissions are in use.

Attack Vector Network

Attack Complexity Low

Privileges Required Low

Attack Requirements Present

User Interaction None

Vulnerable System Confidentiality Impact High

Vulnerable System Integrity Impact None

Vulnerable System Availability Impact None

Subsequent System Confidentiality Impact None

Subsequent System Integrity Impact None

Subsequent System Availability Impact None

No CVSS v3.1

No CVSS v3.0

No CVSS v2

This CVE is not in the KEV list.

No EPSS score available.

Exploitation none

Automatable no

Technical Impact partial

Default status is the baseline for the product, each version can override it (e.g. patched versions marked unaffected).

Vendor Product Default status Versions
n8n n8n unaffected
Version Status Constraints
0 affected < 1.123.61
1.123.61 unaffected —
n8n n8n unaffected
Version Status Constraints
0 affected < 2.28.1
2.28.1 unaffected —
n8n n8n unaffected
Version Status Constraints
0 affected < 2.27.4
2.27.4 unaffected —

No data.

No data.

No data.

Project Subscriptions

Vendors Products
N8n Subscribe
N8n Subscribe
Advisories

No advisories yet.

Fixes

Solution

No solution given by the vendor.

Workaround

No workaround given by the vendor.

References
Link Providers
https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n/security/advisories/GHSA-jp7m-xcgx-57qm cve-icon
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/n8n-permission-bypass-via-expression-parser-mismatch-in-external-secrets cve-icon
History

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 19:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description n8n before versions 1.123.61, 2.27.4, and 2.28.1 contains a permission bypass vulnerability in external secrets handling caused by a mismatch between the static validation check and the runtime expression engine. An authenticated user with credential create or update permissions but without the externalSecret:list scope can embed external secret references into credentials in forms the static validation does not detect; these references resolve at workflow execution time, exposing secret values the user is not authorized to access. This issue only affects instances where an external secrets provider is configured and Advanced Permissions are in use.
Title n8n - Permission Bypass via Expression Parser Mismatch in External Secrets
First Time appeared N8n
N8n n8n
Weaknesses CWE-639
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:n8n:n8n:*:*:*:*:enterprise:node.js:*:*
Vendors & Products N8n
N8n n8n
References
Metrics cvssV4_0

{'score': 6, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N'}

Projects

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cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: VulnCheck

Published:

Updated: 2026-07-15T18:47:38.895Z

Reserved: 2026-07-04T12:17:14.302Z

Link: CVE-2026-59259

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-07-15T18:47:35.380Z

cve-icon NVD

No data.

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

No data.

Weaknesses