📄 Description (English)
n8n is an open source workflow automation platform. From version 0.187.0 to before 1.120.3, a command injection vulnerability was identified in n8n’s community package installation functionality. The issue allowed authenticated users with administrative permissions to execute arbitrary system commands on the n8n host under specific conditions. This issue has been patched in version 1.120.3.
🤖 AI Executive Summary
n8n workflow automation platform contains a command injection vulnerability (CVE-2026-21893) affecting versions 0.187.0 to 1.120.2 that allows authenticated administrators to execute arbitrary system commands. With a CVSS score of 7.2, this poses a significant risk to organizations using n8n for critical automation workflows. Immediate patching to version 1.120.3 or later is strongly recommended, particularly for deployments handling sensitive business processes or integrated with critical infrastructure.
📄 Description (Arabic)
🤖 AI Intelligence Analysis Analyzed: May 9, 2026 03:36
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Impact Assessment
Saudi organizations leveraging n8n for workflow automation—particularly in banking (SAMA-regulated institutions), government digital transformation initiatives (NCA oversight), healthcare systems, and energy sector operations—face significant risk. The vulnerability is especially critical for deployments integrating n8n with ARAMCO systems, STC telecommunications infrastructure, or SABB/Riyad Bank automation workflows. Administrative compromise could lead to unauthorized access to connected systems, data exfiltration, and disruption of critical business processes. Organizations in the financial sector face heightened compliance violations under SAMA CSF and NCA ECC 2024 frameworks.
🏢 Affected Saudi Sectors
Banking and Financial Services
Government and Public Administration
Healthcare and Medical Services
Energy and Utilities
Telecommunications
Manufacturing and Industrial
Retail and E-commerce
🎯 MITRE ATT&CK Techniques
T1059 - Command and Scripting Interpreter
T1059.007 - Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript/Node.js
T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application
T1548 - Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism
T1548.004 - Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism: Elevated Execution with Prompt
T1610 - Deploy Container
T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution
⚖️ Saudi Risk Score (AI)
7.8
/ 10.0
🔧 Remediation Steps (English)
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS:
1. Identify all n8n instances in your environment and document their versions
2. Restrict administrative access to n8n to only essential personnel pending patch deployment
3. Monitor n8n logs for suspicious administrative activities and command execution patterns
4. Isolate n8n instances from critical production systems if patching cannot be completed within 48 hours
PATCHING GUIDANCE:
1. Upgrade all n8n installations to version 1.120.3 or later immediately
2. Test patches in non-production environments first to ensure workflow compatibility
3. Implement a phased rollout for production systems to minimize business disruption
4. Verify patch application by checking version numbers post-deployment
COMPENSATING CONTROLS (if immediate patching not possible):
1. Implement network segmentation to restrict n8n access to authorized networks only
2. Enable comprehensive audit logging for all administrative actions within n8n
3. Implement role-based access control (RBAC) to limit administrative privileges
4. Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect command injection patterns
5. Monitor for suspicious package installation requests and system command execution
DETECTION RULES:
1. Alert on any administrative user executing system commands through n8n package installation
2. Monitor for unusual process spawning from n8n node.js processes
3. Track failed and successful authentication attempts to n8n administrative interfaces
4. Log all package installation requests with source IP and user identity
5. Detect command injection patterns: backticks, $(), pipe operators in package names
🔧 خطوات المعالجة (العربية)
الإجراءات الفورية:
1. حدد جميع مثيلات n8n في بيئتك وتوثيق إصداراتها
2. قيد الوصول الإداري إلى n8n للموظفين الأساسيين فقط قبل نشر التصحيح
3. راقب سجلات n8n للأنشطة الإدارية المريبة وأنماط تنفيذ الأوامر
4. عزل مثيلات n8n عن الأنظمة الإنتاجية الحرجة إذا لم يكن التصحيح ممكناً خلال 48 ساعة
إرشادات التصحيح:
1. ترقية جميع تثبيتات n8n إلى الإصدار 1.120.3 أو أحدث فوراً
2. اختبر التصحيحات في بيئات غير الإنتاج أولاً لضمان توافق سير العمل
3. نفذ طرح مرحلي للأنظمة الإنتاجية لتقليل انقطاع الأعمال
4. تحقق من تطبيق التصحيح بفحص أرقام الإصدار بعد النشر
الضوابط البديلة (إذا لم يكن التصحيح الفوري ممكناً):
1. نفذ تقسيم الشبكة لتقييد وصول n8n للشبكات المصرح بها فقط
2. فعّل تسجيل التدقيق الشامل لجميع الإجراءات الإدارية داخل n8n
3. نفذ التحكم في الوصول القائم على الأدوار (RBAC) لتحديد الامتيازات الإدارية
4. نشر قواعد جدار حماية تطبيقات الويب (WAF) للكشف عن أنماط حقن الأوامر
5. راقب طلبات تثبيت الحزم المريبة وتنفيذ أوامر النظام
قواعد الكشف:
1. تنبيه عند قيام أي مستخدم إداري بتنفيذ أوامر النظام من خلال تثبيت حزمة n8n
2. راقب عمليات غير عادية تنبثق من عمليات node.js في n8n
3. تتبع محاولات المصادقة الفاشلة والناجحة لواجهات n8n الإدارية
4. سجل جميع طلبات تثبيت الحزم مع عنوان IP المصدر وهوية المستخدم
5. كشف أنماط حقن الأوامر: علامات الاقتباس العكسية، $()، عوامل الأنابيب في أسماء الحزم
📋 Regulatory Compliance Mapping
🟢 NCA ECC 2024
ECC 2024 A.5.1.1 - Access Control Policies
ECC 2024 A.6.1.1 - User Access Management
ECC 2024 A.8.2.1 - System Hardening
ECC 2024 A.12.2.1 - Change Management
ECC 2024 A.12.4.1 - Event Logging and Monitoring
🔵 SAMA CSF
SAMA CSF ID.AM-2 - Software Inventory
SAMA CSF PR.AC-1 - Access Control
SAMA CSF PR.AC-4 - Access Rights Management
SAMA CSF DE.CM-1 - System Monitoring
SAMA CSF DE.AE-1 - Anomaly Detection
🟡 ISO 27001:2022
ISO 27001:2022 A.5.15 - Access Control
ISO 27001:2022 A.6.1 - Cryptography
ISO 27001:2022 A.8.1 - User Endpoint Devices
ISO 27001:2022 A.8.22 - Monitoring
ISO 27001:2022 A.8.23 - Web Filtering
🟣 PCI DSS v4.0.1
PCI DSS 2.1 - Configuration Standards
PCI DSS 6.2 - Security Patches
PCI DSS 7.1 - Access Control
PCI DSS 10.2 - User Access Logging
📦 Affected Products / CPE 1 entries
n8n:n8n