CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2026-54052NVD status: Analyzed

n8n-mcp: Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2026-54052 is a critical-severity authorization bypass through user-controlled key vulnerability in n8n-mcp from Czlonkowski, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.9 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. Affected n8n-mcp versions: < 2.56.1. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.39% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.

Patch this week

Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.

What to do

  1. Check which version of n8n-mcp you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
  2. Read the advisory on github.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
Czlonkowskin8n-mcp< 2.56.1Not stated

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
LowA basic user account is enough.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
ChangedThe attack can reach beyond the vulnerable component into other systems.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
LowPerformance or availability is reduced.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:L. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.19.9CriticalCNA (github.com)
CVSS 3.19.9CriticalNVD

Official description

n8n-MCP is an MCP server that provides AI assistants access to n8n node documentation, properties, and operations. Prior to 2.56.1, in HTTP mode with multi-tenancy enabled through ENABLE_MULTI_TENANT=true, n8n-mcp's local workflow version history backups were not isolated per tenant, allowing an authenticated tenant to read workflow version snapshots belonging to other tenants and delete or destroy other tenants' stored backups, including full node definitions, credential references, and authorization headers. This issue is fixed in version 2.56.1.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key

The system's authorization functionality does not prevent one user from gaining access to another user's data or record by modifying the key value identifying the data.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • For each and every data access, ensure that the user has sufficient privilege to access the record that is being requested.
  • Make sure that the key that is used in the lookup of a specific user's record is not controllable externally by the user or that any tampering can be detected.
  • Use encryption in order to make it more difficult to guess other legitimate values of the key or associate a digital signature with the key so that the server can verify that there has been no tampering.

More Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key vulnerabilities (CWE-639)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Patches and release notes

Other vulnerabilities in n8n-mcp

All n8n-mcp vulnerabilities

Recent Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key vulnerabilities

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