# CVE-2026-85057: ZITADEL Actions V1 sandbox escape via require() filesystem read

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-85057-zitadel-actions-v1-sandbox-escape-via-require-filesystem-read  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-09-24. Updated: 2026-09-25  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-85057 · Severity: high · CVSS 8.7 · Published 2026-09-24

ZITADEL is an identity and access management system that runs custom JavaScript workflows ("Actions") during authentication and login flows. A tenant organization administrator can exploit a missing sandbox restriction to read sensitive files from the host filesystem using the JavaScript require() function, potentially stealing instance-wide credentials and escalating to full control of the entire ZITADEL deployment.

Technologies: [github.com/zitadel/zitadel (Go)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/github-com-zitadel-zitadel), [ZITADEL](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/zitadel). Vendors: [Go](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/go), [ZITADEL](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/zitadel).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-85057 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-85057 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-85057?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 8.7, published 24 September 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** github.com/zitadel/zitadel (Go) < 1.80.0-v2.20.0.20260717062331-baf6ed501b68, SEMVER:introduced=0,fixed=1.80.0-v2.20.0.20260717062331-baf6ed501b68; ZITADEL 3.0.0 through 3.4.12, 4.0.0 through 4.16.0.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-85057?** Yes. github.com/zitadel/zitadel (Go): upgrade to 1.80.0-v2.20.0.20260717062331-baf6ed501b68 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-85057 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a hosted service.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-85057?** Check whether you run github.com/zitadel/zitadel (Go) or ZITADEL 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

- github.com/zitadel/zitadel (Go): upgrade to 1.80.0-v2.20.0.20260717062331-baf6ed501b68 or later

  ```sh
  go get github.com/zitadel/zitadel@v1.80.0-v2.20.0.20260717062331-baf6ed501b68
  ```


## Technical details

The vulnerability stems from ZITADEL Actions V1 enabling goja's Node-compatible require() registry without restricting the source loader, allowing action scripts to load arbitrary host files readable by the ZITADEL process. An attacker with ORG_OWNER role (which grants org.action.write and org.flow.write permissions) can read process-accessible files including .js, .json, and other formats via error channels. On deployments following ZITADEL's documented bootstrap paths, this enables recovery of instance-wide credentials such as IAM_LOGIN_CLIENT PAT or IAM_OWNER service account keys. The attack breaks multi-tenant isolation, as tenant administrators should not access host filesystem secrets or instance credentials. The vulnerability affects Actions V1 across versions 3.0.0–3.4.12 and 4.0.0–4.16.0; patches disable filesystem-backed module loading in 3.4.13+ and 4.16.1+.

## Affected products

- ZITADEL ZITADEL 3.0.0 through 3.4.12, 4.0.0 through 4.16.0

## Identifiers

- CVE-2026-85057
- GHSA-fgmf-7rf8-m6vf
- GO-2026-6591

## Timeline

- 2026-09-24: disclosed: Public advisory published
- 2026: patched: Patches available in ZITADEL 3.4.13+ and 4.16.1+

## Related threats

- [ZITADEL missing authorization in Login V2 device authorization](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-119129-zitadel-3-0-0-through-3-4-15-and-4-0-0-before-4-19-5-contains-a)
- [ZITADEL authentication bypass in Login V2 UI](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-119128-zitadel-4-0-0-before-4-19-5-contains-an-authentication-bypass)
- [ZITADEL Login V2 host header injection in password reset](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-119127-zitadel-4-0-0-before-4-19-5-contains-a-host-header-injection)
- [ZITADEL privilege escalation in OIDC token exchange](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-109374-zitadel-3-0-0-before-4-19-2-contains-a-privilege-escalation)
- [ZITADEL authentication bypass in Login V2 UI](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-109373-zitadel-3-0-0-before-4-19-2-contains-an-authentication-bypass)