Security Digest · Vulnerability record
CVE-2026-27498: n8n has Arbitrary Command Execution via File Write and Git Operations
n8n is an open source workflow automation platform.
CVSS 9.0 Critical EPSS 1.4% · p72
Should you act?
Critical, preconditions apply
Severe if exploited, but exploitation needs conditions that may not apply to you. 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 1.4%, percentile 72: FIRST’s model estimates a 1.4% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 72% of all scored CVEs (moderate). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
- Needs an account (low (any account)). Exposure depends on who can log in.
- Only applies if your dependency tree includes
n8n(npm) < 1.123.8, fixed in 1.123.8;n8n(npm) >= 2.0.0, < 2.2.0, fixed in 2.2.0. Check your lockfile, including transitive dependencies.
What it is
n8n is an open source workflow automation platform. Prior to versions 2.2.0 and 1.123.8, an authenticated user with permission to create or modify workflows could chain the Read/Write Files from Disk node with git operations to achieve remote code execution. By writing to specific configuration files and then triggering a git operation, the attacker could execute arbitrary shell commands on the n8n host. The issue has been fixed in n8n versions 2.2.0 and 1.123.8. Users should upgrade to one of these versions or later to remediate the vulnerability. If upgrading is not immediately possible, administrators should consider the following temporary mitigations. Limit workflow creation and editing permissions to fully trusted users only, and/or disable the Read/Write Files from Disk node by adding n8n-nodes-base.readWriteFile to the NODESEXCLUDE environment variable. These workarounds do not fully remediate the risk and should only be used as short-term mitigation measures.
From the GitHub advisory
Impact An authenticated user with permission to create or modify workflows could chain the Read/Write Files from Disk node with git operations to achieve remote code execution. By writing to specific configuration files and then triggering a git operation, the attacker could execute arbitrary shell commands on the n8n host.
Patches The issue has been fixed in n8n versions 2.2.0 and 1.123.8. Users should upgrade to one of these versions or later to remediate the vulnerability.
Workarounds If upgrading is not immediately possible, administrators should consider the following temporary mitigations: - Limit workflow creation and editing permissions to fully trusted users only. - Disable the Read/Write Files from Disk node by adding n8n-nodes-base.readWriteFile to the NODESEXCLUDE environment variable.
These workarounds do not fully remediate the risk and should only be used as short-term mitigation measures.
Weakness type: CWE-94.
Product: n8n (npm) · Assigned by: GitHub_M · Published: 2026-02-25
Affected and fixed versions
| Ecosystem | Package | Vulnerable | First fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| npm | n8n | < 1.123.8 | 1.123.8 |
| npm | n8n | >= 2.0.0, < 2.2.0 | 2.2.0 |
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions (per CVE record) |
|---|---|---|
| n8n-io | n8n | < 1.123.8, >= 2.0.0, < 2.2.0 |
Severity scores
| Scored by | CVSS | Score | Vector |
|---|---|---|---|
| GitHub_M | 4.0 | 9 Critical | CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H |
| GitHub | 4.0 | 9.0 | CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H |
- Attack vector: network (remotely reachable)
- Attack complexity: low
- Attack requirements: present (depends on deployment conditions)
- Privileges required: low (any account)
- 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 no, technical impact total.
- FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 1.38% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 72.
Timeline
- — CVE record published by GitHub_M
- — GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-x2mw-7j39-93xq 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-x2mw-7j39-93xq github.com
- CVE.org record CVE-2026-27498 cve.org
- NVD entry CVE-2026-27498 nvd.nist.gov
Other references from the CVE record and advisory
- github.com github.com
- github.com github.com
- github.com github.com
- github.com github.com
- github.com github.com