# CVE-2026-105853: Payload authentication responses expose restricted user fields

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-105853-payload-token-refresh-and-password-reset-responses-may-expose  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-10-06. Updated: 2026-10-06  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-105853 · Severity: high · CVSS 4 · Published 2026-10-06

Payload is a headless CMS and backend framework used to build web applications and manage content. During token refresh and password reset operations, the system could leak user fields that should be hidden or access-restricted, potentially exposing sensitive information like internal notes or admin flags to unauthorized users. An attacker with a valid account can trigger a token refresh or password reset to access restricted user data they should not see.

Technologies: [payload (npm)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/payload), [Payload](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/payload-payload). Vendors: [npm](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/npm), [Payload](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/payload).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-105853 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-105853 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-105853?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 4, published 6 October 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** payload (npm) SEMVER:introduced=3.0.0,fixed=3.90.0; Payload >= 3.0.0, < 3.90.0; >= 4.0.0-canary.0, < 4.0.0-canary.34.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-105853?** Yes. payload (npm): upgrade to 3.90.0 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-105853 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-105853?** Check whether you run payload (npm) or Payload at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix

- payload (npm): upgrade to 3.90.0 or later

  ```sh
  npm install payload@3.90.0
  ```


## Technical details

A field access control bypass in Payload's authentication response handlers allows hidden or read-restricted fields to be returned to users lacking permission to view them. The vulnerability affects token refresh and password reset endpoints when an authentication collection defines field-level access restrictions. An authenticated attacker can exploit this via network requests to the affected endpoints with low complexity, gaining unauthorized access to confidential user fields server-side filtering now applies before responses are sent.

## Affected products

- Payload Payload >= 3.0.0, < 3.90.0; >= 4.0.0-canary.0, < 4.0.0-canary.34

## Identifiers

- CVE-2026-105853
- GHSA-xgv3-crq2-6f69

## Timeline

- 2026-09-18: disclosed
- 2026-10-06: advisory
- 2026-09-18: patched

## References

- [https://github.com/payloadcms/payload/security/advisories/GHSA-xgv3-crq2-6f69](https://github.com/payloadcms/payload/security/advisories/GHSA-xgv3-crq2-6f69)

## Related threats

- [Payload CMS stored XSS in XML upload handling](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-105868-payload-is-a-free-and-open-source-headless-content-management)
- [Payload CMS account lockout denial of service](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-105866-payload-is-a-free-and-open-source-headless-content-management)
- [Payload CMS path traversal in file deletion](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-105865-payload-is-a-free-and-open-source-headless-content-management)
- [Payload CMS authentication token tampering via reserved JWT fields](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-105863-payload-is-a-free-and-open-source-headless-content-management)
- [Payload CMS stored XSS in SVG upload sanitization](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-105862-payload-is-a-free-and-open-source-headless-content-management)