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CVE-2025-68613: 103,000+ n8n Instances Exposed to Critical 9.9 RCE Exploit

Author: CyberDudeBivash
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TL;DR — Executive Summary

A newly disclosed critical vulnerability, CVE-2025-68613, has placed more than 103,000 publicly exposed n8n automation instances at immediate risk. With a CVSS score of 9.9 (Critical), this flaw enables unauthenticated remote code execution (RCE), allowing attackers to fully compromise affected servers.

This is not a theoretical risk. Internet-wide scans already show mass exposure, and exploitation is expected to escalate rapidly.

What Is n8n and Why This Matters

n8n is a widely adopted open-source workflow automation platform used by startups, enterprises, DevOps teams, and SaaS providers to automate integrations between applications, APIs, and internal systems.

Because n8n often runs with:

Access to internal APIs
Stored credentials and tokens
Database and cloud permissions

A successful RCE against n8n is effectively a full infrastructure compromise.

CVE-2025-68613 — Technical Breakdown

CVE ID	CVE-2025-68613
Severity	Critical
CVSS Score	9.9
Attack Vector	Network (Unauthenticated)
Impact	Remote Code Execution
Affected Software	n8n (self-hosted instances)

The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation in a workflow execution endpoint, allowing attackers to inject and execute arbitrary system-level commands.

No authentication is required.

Scale of Exposure: 103,000+ Instances

According to multiple independent internet scans:

Over 103,000 n8n instances are publicly reachable
Many are running outdated or vulnerable versions
Cloud-hosted deployments are especially affected

This makes CVE-2025-68613 a mass-exploitation candidate, similar in scale to past automation-platform breaches.

Real-World Attack Scenarios

1. Full Server Takeover

Attackers gain shell access, deploy backdoors, create new users, and pivot laterally.

2. Credential & Secret Harvesting

n8n workflows often store API keys, OAuth tokens, cloud credentials, and database passwords — all accessible post-exploitation.

3. Supply Chain Abuse

Compromised workflows can silently manipulate downstream systems, trigger malicious automation, or poison data pipelines.

4. Ransomware & Cryptomining

Public automation servers are high-value targets for cryptominers and ransomware operators.

Indicators of Compromise (IOCs)

Unexpected workflow executions
Unknown system processes spawned by n8n
Outbound connections to unfamiliar IPs
Modified n8n configuration files
New users or SSH keys on the host

Immediate Mitigation Steps (Do This Now)

Patch Immediately: Upgrade n8n to the latest secure release.
Restrict Network Exposure: Remove public access; place behind VPN or firewall.
Rotate All Secrets: Assume all stored credentials are compromised.
Review Logs: Audit execution and system logs for suspicious activity.
Rebuild if Needed: For confirmed compromise, rebuild from clean backups.

Detection & Monitoring Strategy

Organizations should deploy:

Host-based intrusion detection
Process execution monitoring
Outbound traffic anomaly detection
File integrity monitoring

This is where professional log analysis and threat hunting becomes critical.

How CyberDudeBivash Helps

At CyberDudeBivash, we specialize in:

Threat log analysis & compromise assessment
Incident response & containment
Secure automation architecture reviews
Custom IOC & detection rule development

Get professional help: Request Security Assessment

Recommended Security Tools

To harden your infrastructure:

Final Thoughts

CVE-2025-68613 is a stark reminder that automation platforms are now prime attack targets. Leaving such systems exposed to the internet without layered security is no longer acceptable in 2025.

If you operate n8n — act immediately. If you defend organizations — monitor aggressively.

Stay safe. Stay patched. Stay ahead.

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