CVE-2026-65015: n8n before 2.30.1 Privilege Escalation via run_node_tool
Impact In n8n's AI Agents feature, a user with the read-only Project Viewer role could escalate their privileges by chatting with an agent that has node tools enabled. The agent's node-execution tool was authorized only by the agent:execute scope and ran nodes using the project's credentials, without verifying that the requesting user was permitted to execute nodes or to access those credentials.
As a result, a Project Viewer could execute arbitrary tool nodes on the server and use credential secrets they were not authorized to read, gaining execution capabilities their role is intended to deny. On instances where a command- or file-capable tool node (such as Execute Command or SSH) is enabled, this could be extended to arbitrary command execution on the n8n host.
Users of the AI Agents feature who share team projects with lower-privileged members are affected.
Patches The issue has been fixed in n8n versions 2.29.8 and 2.30.1. 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: - Disable the AI Agents module by removing agents from the N8NENABLEDMODULES environment variable. - Restrict project membership to fully trusted users only, and avoid granting Project Viewer access to untrusted users on projects containing agents with node tools enabled. - Disable command-execution nodes (e.g. Execute Command, SSH) if they have been re-enabled, to limit the potential impact.
These workarounds do not fully remediate the risk and should only be used as short-term mitigation measures.
Other sources
n8n versions before 2.30.1 contain a privilege escalation vulnerability in the AI Agents feature where the node-execution tool lacks proper authorization checks. A Project Viewer user can escalate privileges by chatting with an agent that has node tools enabled, executing arbitrary nodes and accessing credential secrets without proper authorization verification.
— MITRE
Affected Software
Remediation
Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.
- Upgrade
Upgrade
npm/n8nto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 2.29.8 - Upgrade
Upgrade
npm/n8nto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 2.30.1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
n8nto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 2.29.8 - Upgrade
Upgrade
n8nto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 2.30.1 - Configuration
Temporarily disable the AI Agents module by removing `agents` from the `N8N_ENABLED_MODULES` environment variable.
n8n AI Agents module N8N_ENABLED_MODULES = remove `agents` - Compensating control
Restrict project membership to fully trusted users only, and avoid granting Project Viewer access to untrusted users on projects containing agents with node tools enabled.
- Compensating control
Disable command-execution nodes (e.g., Execute Command, SSH) if they have been re-enabled, to limit the potential impact from AI Agents node tools.
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the severity of CVE-2026-65015?
The severity of CVE-2026-65015 is rated as high with a CVSS score of 7.2.
What is CVE-2026-65015?
CVE-2026-65015 is a privilege escalation vulnerability in n8n's AI Agents feature that allows a user with the Project Viewer role to escalate privileges.
How do I fix CVE-2026-65015?
To fix CVE-2026-65015, upgrade n8n to version 2.30.1 or later where the vulnerability is addressed.
Who is affected by CVE-2026-65015?
Users with the read-only Project Viewer role in n8n are affected by CVE-2026-65015.
What is the impact of CVE-2026-65015?
The impact of CVE-2026-65015 is that it allows unauthorized privilege escalation through node execution by a compromised user.