n8n is an open source workflow automation platform. Prior to 2.37.7 and 2.38.2, the Instance AI workflow summary used node names and connection keys from stored workflows as ordinary object keys. A workflow submitted through the REST API could contain __proto__ or constructor, causing nested writes to reach Object.prototype in the main n8n process and disrupt later requests. The affected function is summarizeWorkflowStructure in packages/@n8n/instance-ai/src/tools/workflows/summarize-workflow.ts. This issue is fixed in versions 2.37.7 and 2.38.2.
n8n is an open source workflow automation platform. Prior to 2.37.7 and 2.38.2, the Instance AI workflow summary used node names and connection keys from stored workflows as ordinary object keys. A workflow submitted through the REST API could contain __proto__ or constructor, causing nested writes to reach Object.prototype in the main n8n process and disrupt later requests. The affected function is summarizeWorkflowStructure in packages/@n8n/instance-ai/src/tools/workflows/summarize-workflow.ts. This issue is fixed in versions 2.37.7 and 2.38.2.
n8n is an open source workflow automation platform. Prior to 2.37.7 and 2.38.2, the Instance AI workflow summary used node names and connection keys from stored workflows as ordinary object keys. A workflow submitted through the REST API could contain __proto__ or constructor, causing nested writes to reach Object.prototype in the main n8n process and disrupt later requests. The affected function is summarizeWorkflowStructure in packages/@n8n/instance-ai/src/tools/workflows/summarize-workflow.ts. This issue is fixed in versions 2.37.7 and 2.38.2.
## Impact
The Instance AI workflow summary built its result with get-or-create-then-nested-write idioms keyed by node names and connection keys taken from the stored workflow. Those are arbitrary strings: the restricted-name guard n8n shows in the editor is client-side and is bypassed by posting the workflow to the REST API directly. So a reserved key such as `__proto__` resolved up the prototype chain instead of creating an own key, and the write landed on `Object.prototype` in the main n8n process, affecting every later request. The patch builds the summary with null-prototype accumulators and validates the keys it accepts, so reserved names cannot reach the prototype chain.
## Patches
The issue has been fixed in n8n versions 2.37.7 and 2.38.2. Users should upgrade to one of these versions or later to remediate the vulnerability.
## Workarounds
If upgrading is not immediately possible, administrators should consider the following temporary mitigations:
- Restrict n8n instance access to fully trusted users only.
- Remove or leave unconfigured the `N8N_INSTANCE_AI_MODEL*` environment variables to prevent the Instance AI module from reaching the vulnerable code path.
- Restart the n8n process to clear any in-memory prototype pollution if an attack is suspected.
These workarounds do not fully remediate the risk and should only be used as short-term mitigation measures.
EUVD source date text has no stated timezone and is retained without inventing a UTC instant. Related bulletin membership is not an alias, common cause or applicability claim. A missing vector with a zero score is treated as unrated. Complete vendor/product and underlying source evidence remains in the original JSON.
Original publisher date fields
datePublished: Sep 8, 2026, 9:27:21 PM
dateUpdated: Sep 9, 2026, 4:03:58 PM
No normalized affected-package data is projected for this source revision. The original publisher record may contain additional product and version evidence; this does not establish that a package is unaffected.
NVD analysis and CPE criteria are source context, not proof that a package or your environment is affected. Complete affected data, logical configurations and SSVC are retained in the original JSON.
Source analysis status: Analyzed
Weakness classifications: CWE-1321
Original publisher date fields
published: 2026-09-08T22:19:16.677
lastModified: 2026-09-11T18:21:20.657
1 source CPE criteria · context only
cpe:2.3:a:n8n:n8n:*:*:*:*:*:node.js:*:*
The original JSON retains the logical configuration operators, exclusions and version bounds.
No normalized affected-package data is projected for this source revision. The original publisher record may contain additional product and version evidence; this does not establish that a package is unaffected.