Security Digest · Vulnerability record
CVE-2026-105844: Payload: Prototype pollution in Payload Import Export plugin
Payload is a free and open source headless content management system.
CVSS 9.3 Critical EPSS 0.5% · p43
Should you act?
Critical and remotely reachable
No known exploitation yet, but it is network-reachable without credentials. This signal is computed from CISA KEV, EPSS and CVSS data; it is not an editorial verdict.
- No confirmed exploitation. It is not in CISA’s KEV catalog and CISA’s SSVC assessment records no known exploitation. That can change quickly after a public write-up; re-check if you are affected.
- EPSS 0.5%, percentile 43: FIRST’s model estimates a 0.5% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 43% of all scored CVEs (low). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
- Remotely reachable with no login and no user interaction. If the vulnerable service is exposed to the internet, prioritize it.
- Only applies if your dependency tree includes
@payloadcms/plugin-import-export(npm) >= 3.0.0, < 3.88.0, fixed in 3.88.0;@payloadcms/plugin-import-export(npm) >= 4.0.0-canary.0, < 4.0.0-canary.27, fixed in 4.0.0-canary.27. Check your lockfile, including transitive dependencies.
What it is
Payload is a free and open source headless content management system. In versions from 3.0.0 before 3.88.0 and canary versions before 4.0.0-canary.27, an unauthenticated user can submit prototype-sensitive field paths when @payloadcms/plugin-import-export is enabled, causing unintended application behavior that can lead to remote code execution. This issue is fixed in versions 3.88.0 and 4.0.0-canary.27.
From the GitHub advisory
Impact An unauthenticated user could cause unintended application behavior when the Import Export plugin is enabled, allowing an attacker to submit and execute remote code (RCE).
Applications that do not use @payloadcms/plugin-import-export are not affected.
Patches Users should upgrade Payload packages to >= 3.88.0 or >= 4.0.0-canary.27.
Workarounds Upgrading is recommended. Until then, disable the Import Export plugin or restrict access to its endpoints.
Weakness type: CWE-1321.
Product: @payloadcms/plugin-import-export (npm) · Assigned by: GitHub_M · Published: 2026-10-06
Affected and fixed versions
| Ecosystem | Package | Vulnerable | First fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| npm | @payloadcms/plugin-import-export | >= 3.0.0, < 3.88.0 | 3.88.0 |
| npm | @payloadcms/plugin-import-export | >= 4.0.0-canary.0, < 4.0.0-canary.27 | 4.0.0-canary.27 |
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions (per CVE record) |
|---|---|---|
| payloadcms | payload | >= 3.0.0, < 3.88.0, >= 4.0.0-canary.0, < 4.0.0-canary.27 |
| @payloadcms | plugin-import-export | >= 3.0.0, < 3.88.0, >= 4.0.0-canary.0, < 4.0.0-canary.27 |
Severity scores
| Scored by | CVSS | Score | Vector |
|---|---|---|---|
| GitHub_M | 4.0 | 9.3 Critical | CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N |
| GitHub | 4.0 | 9.3 | CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N |
- Attack vector: network (remotely reachable)
- Attack complexity: low
- Attack requirements: none
- Privileges required: none (no login)
- User interaction: none
CVSS measures how bad a flaw is if exploited, not how likely exploitation is. Read it next to the exploitation data below.
Exploitation and urgency
- CISA KEV: not listed (no confirmed in-the-wild exploitation known to CISA).
- CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation none, automatable yes, technical impact total.
- FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 0.52% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 43.
Timeline
- — CVE record published by GitHub_M
- — GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-qf28-8hc6-vwrp published (critical)
- — CVE record last updated
Sources and references
Original sources first. Version and fix details should always be confirmed against the vendor or project advisory.
Vulnerability records
- GitHub Advisory GHSA-qf28-8hc6-vwrp github.com
- CVE.org record CVE-2026-105844 cve.org
- NVD entry CVE-2026-105844 nvd.nist.gov
Other references from the CVE record and advisory
- github.com github.com
- github.com github.com
- github.com github.com