Medium severity · published Sep 3, 2026
CVE-2026-85166
n8n before 2.36.2 Credential Exfiltration via Workflow Tool Node
6.5
CVSS
0.4%
EPSS
No
On KEV
Description
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.
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Attack vector
Network
Complexity
Low
Privileges
Low
User interaction
None
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
None
Availability
None
Scope
Unchanged
Exploitation
Is it being used?
Exploit prediction (EPSS)0.4% · higher than 29% of CVEs
Exploited in the wildNo evidence yet
CISA KEVNot listed
Ransomware campaign useNot known
Affected products
Which versions
N8
n8n · n8n-io
before 2.36.2; before 2.35.4 · source: vendor, NVD
References
NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-85166
CVE.org
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-85166
Mitigation
https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n/security/advisories/GHSA-4r56-g65c-fm83
Third Party Advisory
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/n8n-before-2.36.2-credential-exfiltration-via-workflow-tool-node
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