{"id":"GHSA-j4p8-h8mh-rh8q","summary":"Self-hosted n8n has Legacy Code node that enables arbitrary file read/write","details":"### Impact\n\nIn self-hosted n8n instances where the Code node runs in legacy (non-task-runner) JavaScript execution mode, authenticated users with workflow editing access can invoke internal helper functions from within the Code node.\n\nThis allows a workflow editor to perform actions on the n8n host with the same privileges as the n8n process, including:\n\n- Reading files from the host filesystem (subject to any file-access restrictions configured on the instance and OS/container permissions)\n- Writing files to the host filesystem (subject to the same restrictions)\n\nStarting with n8n version 1.2.1, access to files in the n8n home directory (`.n8n`) is blocked by default. However, this does not restrict access to other parts of the filesystem unless additional file access limitations are configured.\n\n### Patches\n\n- Upgrade to **n8n version 2.0.0 or later**, where task runners are enabled by default for Code node execution.\n- On **n8n version 1.71.0 and above**, enable task runners by setting `N8N_RUNNERS_ENABLED=true`.\n\n### Workarounds\n\nIf you cannot immediately migrate to task runners:\n\n- Limit file operations by setting `N8N_RESTRICT_FILE_ACCESS_TO` to a dedicated directory (e.g., `~/.n8n-files`) and ensure it contains no sensitive data.\n- Keep `N8N_BLOCK_FILE_ACCESS_TO_N8N_FILES=true` (default) to block access to `.n8n` and user-defined config files.\n- If workflow editors are not fully trusted, consider disabling high-risk nodes (including the Code node) using `NODES_EXCLUDE`.\n\n### Resources\n\n- n8n Docs: [Task runners](https://docs.n8n.io/hosting/configuration/task-runners/)\n- n8n Docs: [Task runner environment variables](https://docs.n8n.io/hosting/configuration/environment-variables/task-runners/)\n- n8n Docs: [Security environment variables](https://docs.n8n.io/hosting/configuration/environment-variables/security/#security-environment-variables)\n- n8n Docs: [v2.0 breaking changes](https://docs.n8n.io/2-0-breaking-changes/#enable-task-runners-by-default)","aliases":["CVE-2025-68697"],"modified":"2025-12-31T01:20:40.157292Z","published":"2025-12-26T18:26:38Z","database_specific":{"severity":"HIGH","github_reviewed":true,"github_reviewed_at":"2025-12-26T18:26:38Z","nvd_published_at":"2025-12-26T22:15:52Z","cwe_ids":["CWE-269","CWE-749"]},"references":[{"type":"WEB","url":"https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n/security/advisories/GHSA-j4p8-h8mh-rh8q"},{"type":"ADVISORY","url":"https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-68697"},{"type":"PACKAGE","url":"https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n"}],"affected":[{"package":{"name":"n8n","ecosystem":"npm","purl":"pkg:npm/n8n"},"ranges":[{"type":"SEMVER","events":[{"introduced":"1.2.1"},{"fixed":"2.0.0"}]}],"database_specific":{"source":"https://github.com/github/advisory-database/blob/main/advisories/github-reviewed/2025/12/GHSA-j4p8-h8mh-rh8q/GHSA-j4p8-h8mh-rh8q.json"}}],"schema_version":"1.9.0","severity":[{"type":"CVSS_V3","score":"CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:N"}]}