CVE-2025-68697CWE-269CWE-749privilege-escalation

CVE-2025-68697

High · published December 27, 2025

CVSS v3.1
7.1
EPSS
0%
Percentile
17.5
In the wild
Unconfirmed
What it is

⚡ If you're using n8n before version 2.0.0, authenticated users can wield epic powers with just a few edits! This sneaky vulnerability lets them invoke internal functions, opening access to your system files. 🔥 Think of it like a restaurant where chefs can not only cook but also access the storage room, picking any ingredients they want without oversight. If a chef goes rogue, they could grab everything from the pantry, including your secret recipes! 🍽️ This vulnerability allows a workflow editor to perform actions on the n8n host with the same privileges as the n8n process. Imagine someone being able to read and even write files on your server, putting your sensitive data at risk and potentially leading to a data breach or system compromise. That's absolutely devastating! 😱

Put simply

Think of it like a restaurant where chefs can not only cook but also access the storage room, picking any ingredients they want without oversight. If a chef goes rogue, they could grab everything from the pantry, including your secret recipes! 🍽️ In self-hosted n8n instances running in legacy JavaScript execution mode, authenticated users with workflow editing access can exploit the Code node to invoke internal functions, thus gaining access to host filesystem operations. They can read and write files without sufficient restrictions in place.

What to do

This vulnerability allows a workflow editor to perform actions on the n8n host with the same privileges as the n8n process. Imagine someone being able to read and even write files on your server, putting your sensitive data at risk and potentially leading to a data breach or system compromise. That's absolutely devastating! 😱 Upgrade to n8n version 2.0.0 immediately to close this loophole. Also, consider limiting file operations by setting N8N_RESTRICT_FILE_ACCESS_TO to a dedicated directory and ensure it contains no sensitive data. Don't forget to keep N8N_BLOCK_FILE_ACCESS_TO_N8N_FILES=true to block access to sensitive configuration files and disable high-risk nodes if you can't fully trust your workflow editors! 🛡️ You've got this! Follow these steps, and you'll secure your n8n instance in no time! 🚀

The record
Technical detail
CVSS v3.1
7.1 · HIGH
Vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:N
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.00265 · 17.5th percentile
Weaknesses
CWE-269 · Improper Privilege Management; CWE-749 · Exposed Dangerous Method or Function
Published
2025-12-27T03:15Z
Affected products (1)
ProductVersionsFixed in
n8n/n8n< 2.0.02.0.0
References (1)
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 26 DEC 21:51Z
    Self-hosted n8n has Legacy Code node that enables arbitrary file read/write
    cvelistv5