The vulnerability identified as CVE-2026-25049 affects the n8n AI workflow automation platform, specifically its sandbox environment designed to safely execute JavaScript expressions. The sandbox's sanitization routine, which is intended to prevent malicious code execution, fails to properly evaluate certain JavaScript expressions, allowing attackers to escape the sandbox constraints. This sandbox escape enables arbitrary command execution on the underlying server hosting n8n, effectively granting attackers full control over the system. The vulnerability is critical, with a CVSS score of 9.4, indicating a high likelihood of exploitation and severe impact. Exploitation does not require user interaction or authentication, increasing the risk profile. Although no active exploits have been reported, the nature of the flaw suggests that attackers could leverage it to execute malicious workflows, deploy ransomware, exfiltrate sensitive data, or disrupt services. The vulnerability affects all versions of n8n that use the flawed sandbox implementation, which is common in deployments automating business processes and AI workflows. The issue is rooted in JavaScript's dynamic evaluation and the sandbox's inability to fully sanitize or restrict dangerous expressions, a common challenge in securing script execution environments.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability is substantial. n8n is widely used for automating workflows that integrate various business-critical applications and data sources. A successful sandbox escape could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive corporate data, disruption of automated processes, and potential lateral movement within the network. This could result in data breaches, operational downtime, and reputational damage. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, manufacturing, and government, which rely heavily on automation and AI workflows, are particularly vulnerable. The ability to execute arbitrary commands on servers could also facilitate ransomware deployment or espionage activities. Given Europe's strict data protection regulations like GDPR, a breach resulting from this vulnerability could lead to significant legal and financial penalties. The threat is exacerbated by the ease of exploitation and the lack of required user interaction, making it a high priority for incident response and risk mitigation.

To mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should immediately review their use of the n8n platform and restrict access to n8n servers to trusted networks and users only. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to limit exposure. Monitoring and logging of n8n server activity should be enhanced to detect unusual or unauthorized command execution attempts. Organizations should apply any patches or updates provided by the n8n development team as soon as they become available. In the absence of patches, consider disabling or limiting the use of custom JavaScript expressions within workflows or replacing them with safer alternatives. Conduct thorough code reviews of workflows to identify potentially dangerous scripts. Employ runtime application self-protection (RASP) or endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools to detect and block exploitation attempts. Finally, maintain regular backups of critical data and workflows to enable recovery in case of compromise.