n8n: Agent Workflow Tool Bypasses Sub-Workflow Caller Policy
cve-program · CVE-2026-86996
Publishedn8n is an open source workflow automation platform. Prior to 2.37.7 and 2.38.2, the workflow setting named This workflow can be called by was enforced by the Execute Workflow node but not when a workflow was attached to an Agent as a tool. A user able to build an Agent could invoke a restricted workflow and read its returned data. The affected path is packages/cli/src/modules/agents/tools/workflow-tool-factory.ts, where executeWorkflow omitted SubworkflowPolicyChecker.checkForProject. This issue is fixed in versions 2.37.7 and 2.38.2.
Read the publisher's advisoryeuvd · EUVD-2026-74267
Publishedn8n is an open source workflow automation platform. Prior to 2.37.7 and 2.38.2, the workflow setting named This workflow can be called by was enforced by the Execute Workflow node but not when a workflow was attached to an Agent as a tool. A user able to build an Agent could invoke a restricted workflow and read its returned data. The affected path is packages/cli/src/modules/agents/tools/workflow-tool-factory.ts, where executeWorkflow omitted SubworkflowPolicyChecker.checkForProject. This issue is fixed in versions 2.37.7 and 2.38.2.
Read the publisher's advisorynvd · CVE-2026-86996
Publishedn8n is an open source workflow automation platform. Prior to 2.37.7 and 2.38.2, the workflow setting named This workflow can be called by was enforced by the Execute Workflow node but not when a workflow was attached to an Agent as a tool. A user able to build an Agent could invoke a restricted workflow and read its returned data. The affected path is packages/cli/src/modules/agents/tools/workflow-tool-factory.ts, where executeWorkflow omitted SubworkflowPolicyChecker.checkForProject. This issue is fixed in versions 2.37.7 and 2.38.2.
Read the publisher's advisoryosv · GHSA-7hgx-277f-7vmg
Published## Impact A workflow's "_This workflow can be called by_" setting was enforced by the Execute Workflow node but was not consulted when the same workflow was attached to an Agent as a tool. A user who could build an Agent could therefore call a workflow that its owner had restricted, and read back what it returned. The patch applies the sub-workflow caller policy on the Agent tool path. ## 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. - Audit workflows attached as Agent tools and review their caller policy settings. - Remove sensitive workflows from Agent tool configurations until the instance is patched. These workarounds do not fully remediate the risk and should only be used as short-term mitigation measures.
Read the publisher's advisoryAffected versions, risk and source history
Related advisories and sources
Publishers link these advisories through the identifiers shown below. A shared identifier or date alone does not tell you whether your software is affected or whether the advisories describe the same cause.
CVE-2026-86996 · CVE overview and exploitation status
cve-program · CVE-2026-86996
- https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n/security/advisories/GHSA-7hgx-277f-7vmg
- https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n/releases/tag/[email protected]
- https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n/releases/tag/[email protected]
euvd · EUVD-2026-74267
- https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n/security/advisories/GHSA-7hgx-277f-7vmg
- https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n/releases/tag/[email protected]
- https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n/releases/tag/[email protected]
nvd · CVE-2026-86996
- https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n/releases/tag/[email protected]
- https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n/releases/tag/[email protected]
- https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n/security/advisories/GHSA-7hgx-277f-7vmg
osv · GHSA-7hgx-277f-7vmg
Related changes
Linked by CVE identifierNo related changes are available here.