Payload has an SQL Injection in JSON/RichText Queries on PostgreSQL/SQLite Adapters

Payload is a free and open source headless content management system. Prior to 3.73.0, when querying JSON or richText fields, user input was directly embedded into SQL without escaping, enabling blind SQL injection attacks. An unauthenticated attacker could extract sensitive data (emails, password reset tokens) and achieve full account takeover without password cracking. This vulnerability is fixed in 3.73.0.

Problem type

CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection')

Affected products

payloadcms

payload

< 3.73.0 - AFFECTED

References

https://github.com/payloadcms/payload/security/advisories/GHSA-xx6w-jxg9-2wh8

https://github.com/payloadcms/payload/security/advisories/GHSA-xx6w-jxg9-2wh8

x_refsource_CONFIRM

GitHub Security Advisories

GHSA-xx6w-jxg9-2wh8

@payloadcms/drizzle has SQL Injection in JSON/RichText Queries on PostgreSQL/SQLite Adapters

https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-xx6w-jxg9-2wh8

Impact

When querying JSON or richText fields, user input was directly embedded into SQL without escaping, enabling blind SQL Injection attacks. An unauthenticated attacker could extract sensitive data (emails, password reset tokens) and achieve full account takeover without password cracking.

Users are affected if ALL of these are true:

Payload version < v3.73.0
Using a Drizzle-based database adapter (@payloadcms/drizzle as dependency):
- @payloadcms/db-postgres
- @payloadcms/db-vercel-postgres
- @payloadcms/db-sqlite
- @payloadcms/db-d1-sqlite
At least one accessible collection that has a type: 'json' or type: 'richText' field where access.read returns anything other than false (true or Where constraint)

Users are NOT affected if:

Using @payloadcms/db-mongodb
No JSON or richText fields exist in any collection
All JSON/richText fields have access: { read: () => false }

Patches

Upgrade to Payload v3.73.0 or later.

Workarounds

If a project cannot upgrade immediately, add access: { read: () => false } to all JSON and richText fields as a temporary mitigation.

github.com

https://github.com/payloadcms/payload/security/advisories/GHSA-xx6w-jxg9-2wh8

nvd.nist.gov

https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-25544

github.com

https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-xx6w-jxg9-2wh8

JSON source

https://cveawg.mitre.org/api/cve/CVE-2026-25544

Click to expand

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