Summary
n8n has a Python sandbox escape
Full technical description
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
- n8n Documentation, Task Runners, external mode, setup guide, and environment configuration details
- n8n Documentation, Blocking nodes , how to globally disable specific nodes
Impact
A vulnerability in the Python Code node allows authenticated users to break out of the Python sandbox environment and execute code outside the intended security boundary.
Only authenticated users are able to execute code through Task Runners.
This issue affected any deployment in which the following conditions were met:
- Task Runners were enabled using
N8N_RUNNERS_ENABLED=true(default: false) - Python was enabled
N8N_PYTHON_ENABLED=true - Code Node was enabled (default: true)
In case the N8N_RUNNERS_MODE is set to external (default: internal) the sandbox escape is limited to the sidecar container with lower risk for lateral movement. In that case a lower high severity is more appropriate.
CVE-2026-25115 has a CVSS score of 9.9 (Critical). The vector is network-reachable, low privileges required, and no user interaction. A CVSS score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether this affects your application depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable in your environment. A fixed version is available (2.4.8); upgrading removes the vulnerable code path.
Affected versions
Security releases
Kodem intelligence
Severity tells you how bad this could be in the worst case. It does not tell you whether you are exposed. Exploitability and impact are functions of runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A vulnerable package can sit in your dependency tree and never run.
Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter. Kodem's runtime-powered SCA identifies whether this CVE is reachable in your applications.
Remediation advice
This vulnerability is fixed in version 2.4.8 and later.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is CVE-2026-25115? CVE-2026-25115 is a critical-severity security vulnerability in n8n (npm), affecting versions < 2.4.8. It is fixed in 2.4.8.
- How severe is CVE-2026-25115? CVE-2026-25115 has a CVSS score of 9.9 (Critical). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.
- Which versions of n8n are affected by CVE-2026-25115? n8n (npm) versions < 2.4.8 is affected.
- Is there a fix for CVE-2026-25115? Yes. CVE-2026-25115 is fixed in 2.4.8. Upgrade to this version or later.
- Is CVE-2026-25115 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2026-25115 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk. Get a demo
- What actually determines whether CVE-2026-25115 is exploitable, and how bad it is? Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.
- How do I fix CVE-2026-25115? Upgrade
n8nto 2.4.8 or later.