GHSA-49mx-fj45-q3p6 CVE-2025-61917
n8n's Unsafe Buffer Allocation Allows In-Process Memory Disclosure in Task Runner
- Severity
- 7.7 / 10
- High · CVSS 3.1
- Exploit chance (EPSS)
- 0.40%
- Chance of exploitation in the next 30 days. Higher than 34.22% of scored vulnerabilities.
- Known exploited
- No
- Not in CISA's catalog
- Weakness
- CWE-200 Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor
- CWE-668 Exposure of Resource to Wrong Sphere
- Fix
1.114.3- Upgrade n8n to this version or later
Description
Impact
The use of Buffer.allocUnsafe() and Buffer.allocUnsafeSlow() in the task runner allowed untrusted code to allocate uninitialized memory. Such uninitialized buffers could contain residual data from within the same Node.js process (for example, data from prior requests, tasks, secrets, or tokens), resulting in potential information disclosure.
Only authenticated users are able to execute code through Task Runners.
This issue affected any deployment in which both of the following conditions were met:
- Task Runners were enabled using
N8N_RUNNERS_ENABLED=true(default: false) - Code Node was enabled (default: true)
Patches
Access to unsafe Buffer functions has been removed from the task runner sandbox. All buffer allocations are now zero-filled by default.
- Fixed in: 1.114.3 & 1.115.0
- Action: It is strongly recommended to upgrade to version ≥ 1.114.3 as soon as possible.
Changes introduced in this patch include:
- Routing all buffer allocations through
Buffer.alloc(which zero-fills) operations where applicable - Adding regression tests to ensure continued enforcement of safe allocation practices
Workarounds
If an immediate upgrade cannot be applied, the following hardening steps are recommended:
- Disable the Code Node by adding
n8n-nodes-base.codeto theNODES_EXCLUDEenvironment variable - Prefer external mode for isolation: run Task Runners in external mode so that untrusted task code executes in a separate sidecar container rather than within the main n8n process. This configuration significantly reduces the risk of in-process memory disclosure caused by unsafe buffer allocations.
In external mode, a launcher manages Task Runner processes in a dedicated sidecar environment, separate from the primary n8n instance.
See the n8n documentation for configuration details and required environment variables.
Resources
- Node.js documentation:
Buffer.alloc()vsBuffer.allocUnsafe()— background on zero-filled vs uninitialized allocations - n8n Documentation — Task Runners — external mode, setup guide, and environment configuration details
- n8n Documentation — Blocking nodes — how to globally disable specific nodes
Affected versions
npm
| Package | Vulnerable | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| n8n | >= 1.65.0, < 1.114.3 |
1.114.3 |
How to fix
Move to the fixed version or later with your package manager, update the lockfile, and run your tests. If the package only arrives through another dependency, upgrade that dependency first. If none of its releases pulls a fixed version yet, force the version with your package manager's override.
n8n npm → 1.114.3
- npm
npm install n8n@1.114.3- yarn
yarn add n8n@1.114.3- pnpm
pnpm add n8n@1.114.3
Severity breakdown
CVSS 3.1 7.7
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N
- Attack vector
- Network
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Changed
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- None
- Availability
- None
Weakness
CWE-200: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor
The product exposes sensitive information to an actor that is not explicitly authorized to have access to that information.
How to prevent it
- Architecture and Design: Compartmentalize the system to have "safe" areas where trust boundaries can be unambiguously drawn. Do not allow sensitive data to go outside of the trust boundary and always be careful when interfacing with a compartment outside of the safe area. Ensure that appropriate compartmentalization is built into the system design, and the compartmentalization allows for and reinforces privilege separation functionality. Architects and designers should rely on the principle of least privilege to decide the appropriate time to use privileges and the time to drop privileges.
CWE-668: Exposure of Resource to Wrong Sphere
The product exposes a resource to the wrong control sphere, providing unintended actors with inappropriate access to the resource.
References
Advisories
Packages
Other links
Timeline
- Published
- Last updated by the source
- Latest EPSS score
Related advisories
| Advisory | Severity | Why it's related |
|---|---|---|
| GHSA-v98v-ff95-f3cp n8n Vulnerable to Remote Code Execution via Expression Injection | High Known exploited | Also affects n8n |
| GHSA-qgpw-8g46-w95v n8n: Git Node branch.<name>.remote Config Key Bypasses Sandbox Path Restriction, Enabling Local Git Repository Read | Medium | Also affects n8n |
| GHSA-65xw-2v52-jhxc n8n: Cross-User Active Workflow ID and Lifecycle Event Disclosure via Missing userId Filter | Medium | Also affects n8n |
| GHSA-pq6c-vh67-xpm3 n8n: Log Streaming Event Destinations Decrypt Generic-Auth Credentials Without Ownership Check | Medium | Also affects n8n |
| GHSA-cqr2-h44g-v75v n8n: Cross-Tenant Project-Member PII Disclosure via Missing Per-Project Scope Check on Role Assignment Endpoints | Medium | Also affects n8n |
| GHSA-pf83-w3f9-8m37 n8n: Disabled OIDC SSO Endpoints Remain Active and Issue Valid Sessions | Medium | Also affects n8n |
| GHSA-6xcw-7xm6-48c6 n8n: Expression Sandbox Escape via Shared Builtin Tampering and Code-Printer Injection Leads to Code Execution | High | Also affects n8n |
| GHSA-34ff-336r-5q23 n8n: Domain-Restriction Bypass via Unguarded Model-Search Endpoint in OpenAI Chat Model Node | Medium | Also affects n8n |
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