CVE-2026-44791: n8n: XML Node Prototype Pollution Patch Bypass

Published May 14, 2026
·
Updated

Impact An authenticated user with permission to create or modify workflows could bypass the patch for GHSA-hqr4-h3xv-9m3r in the XML node. When combined with other nodes, this could lead to RCE on the n8n host.

Patches The issue has been fixed in n8n versions 1.123.43, 2.20.7, and 2.22.1. 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 XML node by adding n8n-nodes-base.xml to the NODESEXCLUDE environment variable.

These workarounds do not fully remediate the risk and should only be used as short-term mitigation measures.

--- n8n has adopted CVSS 4.0 as primary score for all security advisories. CVSS 3.1 vector strings are provided for backwards compatibility.

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

Other sources

n8n is an open source workflow automation platform. Prior to 1.123.43, 2.22.1, and 2.20.7, an authenticated user with permission to create or modify workflows could bypass the patch for CVE-2026-42232 in the XML node. When combined with other nodes, this could lead to RCE on the n8n host. This vulnerability is fixed in 1.123.43, 2.22.1, and 2.20.7.

MITRE

Affected Software

6 affected componentsFixes available
npm/n8n>=2.0.0-rc.0<2.20.7
2.20.7
npm/n8n>=2.21.0<2.22.1
2.22.1
npm/n8n<1.123.43
1.123.43
n8n N8n Node.js<1.123.43
n8n N8n Node.js>=2.0.0<2.20.7
n8n N8n Node.js>=2.21.0<2.22.1

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

  1. Upgrade

    Upgrade npm/n8n to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 2.20.7
  2. Upgrade

    Upgrade npm/n8n to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 2.22.1
  3. Upgrade

    Upgrade npm/n8n to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 1.123.43
  4. Configuration

    Add 'n8n-nodes-base.xml' to the NODES_EXCLUDE environment variable to disable the XML node as a temporary mitigation.

    n8n NODES_EXCLUDE = n8n-nodes-base.xml
  5. Configuration

    Limit workflow creation and editing permissions to fully trusted users only to reduce risk until the product is upgraded.

    n8n workflow_creation_and_editing_permissions = trusted_users_only

Event History

May 14, 2026
Advisory Published
via GitHub·04:17 PM
Data Sourced
via GitHub·04:17 PM
DescriptionWeaknessAffected Software
Jun 23, 2026
CVE Published
via MITRE·03:54 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·03:54 PM
DescriptionWeakness
Data Sourced
via NVD·05:16 PM
DescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2026-44791?

CVE-2026-44791 has a significant severity level due to the potential for remote code execution (RCE) on the n8n host.

2

How do I fix CVE-2026-44791?

To fix CVE-2026-44791, upgrade to n8n version 1.123.43, 2.20.7, or 2.22.1.

3

Who is affected by CVE-2026-44791?

Authenticated users with permission to create or modify workflows in n8n are affected by CVE-2026-44791.

4

What is the potential impact of CVE-2026-44791?

The potential impact of CVE-2026-44791 includes the ability to bypass security measures leading to remote code execution.

5

Is there a patch available for CVE-2026-44791?

Yes, patches for CVE-2026-44791 are included in n8n versions 1.123.43, 2.20.7, and 2.22.1.

Contact

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