n8n: Time-of-check Time-of-use (TOCTOU) Race Condition
CVE-2026-65598 is a high-severity time-of-check time-of-use (TOCTOU) race condition vulnerability in n8n, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 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. The record lists versions 1.123.64, 2.30.1, 2.29.8 as the first without the flaw, so updating n8n to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.34% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update n8n to 1.123.64 or 2.30.1 or 2.29.8, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Read the advisory on github.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| n8n | n8n | before 1.123.64; 2.30.0 up to, but not including, 2.30.1; 2.0.0-rc.0 up to, but not including, 2.29.8 | 1.123.64, 2.30.1, 2.29.8 |
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
- HighSuccess depends on conditions outside the attacker's control.
- Privileges required
- LowA basic user account is enough.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 4.0 | 8.9 | High | CNA (vulncheck.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.5 | High | NVD |
Official description
n8n before 1.123.64, 2.29.8, and 2.30.1 contains a TOCTOU race condition in the Git node's clone operation that allows authenticated users to bypass path restrictions by swapping a directory for a symlink after the path is validated but before the clone runs. This lets an attacker plant a crafted repository in the community node directory, which n8n loads as a custom node on the next restart, executing arbitrary JavaScript on the server. Both self-hosted and cloud instances are affected.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Time-of-check Time-of-use (TOCTOU) Race Condition
The product checks the state of a resource before using that resource, but the resource's state can change between the check and the use in a way that invalidates the results of the check.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- The most basic advice for TOCTOU vulnerabilities is to not perform a check before the use. This does not resolve the underlying issue of the execution of a function on a resource whose state and identity cannot be assured, but it does help to limit the false sense of security given by the check.
- When the file being altered is owned by the current user and group, set the effective gid and uid to that of the current user and group when executing this statement.
- Limit the interleaving of operations on files from multiple processes.
More Time-of-check Time-of-use (TOCTOU) Race Condition vulnerabilities (CWE-367)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Advisories
Third-party and government advisories
- vulncheck.com/advisories/n8n-before-remote-code-execution-via-git-cloneThird Party Advisory
Other vulnerabilities in n8n
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.7 High severity
- 8.2 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.1 High severity
Recent Time-of-check Time-of-use (TOCTOU) Race Condition vulnerabilities
- 7.8 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 9.3 Critical severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.2 High severity
- 7.1 High severity
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