# CVE-2026-25574: Payload CMS cross-collection IDOR in preferences

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-25574-payload-cms-cross-collection-idor-in-preferences  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-02-05. Updated: 2026-09-25  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-25574 · Severity: low · CVSS 3.1 · Published 2026-02-05

Payload CMS is a popular headless CMS platform used to manage content and user authentication for web applications. A cross-collection access control vulnerability allows authenticated users to read and delete preferences from other user accounts when multiple auth collections are configured with auto-incrementing numeric IDs. This could enable account takeover or data destruction across user groups in multi-tenant environments.

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

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-25574 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-25574 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-25574?** Low severity, with a CVSS score of 3.1, published 5 February 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** payload (npm) SEMVER:introduced=0,fixed=3.74.0; Payload CMS < 3.74.0.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-25574?** Yes. payload (npm): upgrade to 3.74.0 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-25574 attacked?** It is attacked over the network.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-25574?** Check whether you run payload (npm) or Payload CMS 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 3.74.0 or later

  ```sh
  npm install payload@3.74.0
  ```


## Technical details

The vulnerability is an Insecure Direct Object Reference (IDOR) affecting the payload-preferences internal collection. The root cause is insufficient access control validation in multi-auth collection environments using Postgres or SQLite with default serial/auto-increment IDs. An authenticated user from one auth collection can reference and manipulate preference records belonging to users in different collections by guessing or iterating numeric IDs. Attack requires multiple auth collections, Postgres/SQLite with serial IDs, and users with matching numeric IDs across collections. The attacker needs network access and valid authentication to one collection but gains read/delete capabilities across collections. The vulnerability has been patched in v3.74.0 and does not affect MongoDB-backed deployments or UUID-based ID schemes.

## Affected products

- Payload Payload CMS < 3.74.0

## Identifiers

- CVE-2026-25574
- GHSA-jq29-r496-r955

## Timeline

- 2026-02-05: disclosed
- 2026-02-05: patched: v3.74.0

## References

- [https://github.com/payloadcms/payload/security/advisories/GHSA-jq29-r496-r955](https://github.com/payloadcms/payload/security/advisories/GHSA-jq29-r496-r955)

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