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Payload is a free and open source headless content management system (CMS) built on Node.js, widely used for building modern web applications and APIs. The vulnerability CVE-2026-105804 affects Payload versions 3.0.0 up to but not including 3.90.0, as well as canary releases from 4.0.0-canary.0 to 4.0.0-canary.34. This issue stems from the password-hashing configuration using a lower-than-recommended PBKDF2 work factor, which reduces the computational effort required to test recovered password hashes. The core technical flaw lies in the default configuration for the password-hashing mechanism, specifically requesting a 512-byte key from PBKDF2-HMAC-SHA256 with 25,000 iterations. This creates a severe cryptographic asymmetry: while the defending server sequentially computes 16 blocks of key material (equivalent to 400,000 internal iterations), an offline attacker only needs to compute the first 32-byte block to verify password guesses. As a result, attackers can crack stolen database hashes 16 times faster than intended by the security design. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-916: Use of Password Hash With Insufficient Computational Effort and falls under the MITRE ATT&CK technique T1110 for Brute Force. The CVSS v4.0 base score is 5.7, categorized as Medium severity, with an attack vector of Local and high attack complexity. If an adversary gains access to the Payload CMS database through other vectors such as SQL injection or unauthorized API access, they can exploit the weak hashing parameters to rapidly test millions of password guesses per second using modern hardware accelerators like GPUs or ASICs. This compromises the confidentiality of user credentials, potentially leading to unauthorized administrative access, data exfiltration, and further lateral movement within the associated infrastructure. The impact is particularly severe for applications where Payload CMS serves as a central hub for sensitive content management, as compromised admin accounts can alter site configurations, inject malicious scripts, or expose proprietary business logic. This vulnerability highlights a common oversight in web application development where default or legacy cryptographic parameters are retained without periodic review against current best practices such as those outlined by NIST SP 800-63B regarding digital identity guidelines. To mitigate this risk, organizations running affected versions must immediately upgrade to Payload CMS version 3.90.0 or later for the stable branch, or version 4.0.0-canary.34 and above if utilizing canary releases. Additionally, it is advisable to enforce a forced password reset for all existing users upon upgrading, ensuring that new passwords are hashed with the updated, more robust work factor parameters provided in the patched versions. Until an upgrade can be performed, organizations should protect database copies and backups from unauthorized access and require strong, unique passwords for all users.
DailyCVE Form:
Platform: Payload CMS
Version: 3.0.0-3.90.0
Vulnerability: PBKDF2 weak iterations
Severity: Moderate
date: 2026-09-29
Prediction: 2026-11-15
What Undercode Say:
Check Payload version in package.json grep '"payload"' package.json Upgrade Payload to patched version npm install payload@^3.90.0 For canary users npm install payload@^4.0.0-canary.34
// Vulnerable hashing configuration (before patch) // 512-byte key, 25000 iterations, PBKDF2-HMAC-SHA256 // Result: 16 blocks computed by server, attacker only needs 1 block
Exploit: (Educational Purposes!)
Simulate offline cracking advantage Extract hash from database (after gaining access) hash = "pbkdf2_sha256$25000$salt$..." Use hashcat with optimized mode for Payload PBKDF2 hashcat -m 10900 -a 0 hashes.txt wordlist.txt The 16x speedup comes from only needing first 32-byte block instead of all 512 bytes computed by server
Protection: from this CVE
// After upgrade, Payload uses stronger parameters // and transparently upgrades older hashes on login // Ensure database backups are encrypted // Implement MFA for all admin accounts // Enforce strong password policies (minLength: 12)
Impact:
The vulnerability reduces the computational effort required to test recovered password hashes, allowing offline attackers to crack stolen database hashes 16 times faster than intended. If an adversary gains access to the Payload CMS database through other vectors, they can rapidly test millions of password guesses per second. This compromises user credentials, potentially leading to unauthorized administrative access, data exfiltration, and further lateral movement. The impact is severe for applications where Payload CMS serves as a central hub for sensitive content management.
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Sources:
Reported By: github.com
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