CVE-2026-85166: 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…

PriorityP340medium6.5CVSS 3.1

AVNACLPRLUINSUCHINAN

EPSS

0.36%

27.0th percentile

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.

Affected

4 ranges

Vendor	Product	Version range	Fixed in
n8n-io	n8n	< 2.36.2	2.36.2
n8n-io	n8n	< 2.35.4	2.35.4
n8n	n8n	< 2.35.4	2.35.4
n8n	n8n	>= 2.36.0 < 2.36.2	2.36.2

CVSS provenance

nvdv3.16.5MEDIUMCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

nvdv4.07.2HIGHCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:H/SI:H/SA:L/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X

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