> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.n8n.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.n8n.io/deploy/host-n8n/configure-n8n/basic-configuration/use-environment-variables/security.md).
# Security
{% hint style="info" %}
**File-based configuration**
You can add `_FILE` to individual variables to provide their configuration in a separate file. Refer to [Keeping sensitive data in separate files](/deploy/host-n8n/configure-n8n/basic-configuration.md#keeping-sensitive-data-in-separate-files) for more details.
{% endhint %}
| Variable | Type | Default | Description |
| -------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------ | ------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `N8N_BLOCK_ENV_ACCESS_IN_NODE` | Boolean | `false` | Whether to allow users to access environment variables in expressions and the Code node (false) or not (true). |
| `N8N_BLOCK_FILE_ACCESS_TO_N8N_FILES` | Boolean | `true` | Set to `true` to block access to all files in the `.n8n` directory and user defined configuration files. |
| `N8N_ENFORCE_SETTINGS_FILE_PERMISSIONS` | Boolean | `false` | Set to `true` to try to set 0600 permissions for the settings file, giving only the owner read and write access. |
| `N8N_RESTRICT_FILE_ACCESS_TO` | String | | Limits access to files in these directories. Provide multiple files as a semicolon-separated list ("`;`"). |
| `N8N_SECURITY_AUDIT_DAYS_ABANDONED_WORKFLOW` | Number | 90 | Number of days to consider a workflow abandoned if it's not executed. |
| `N8N_CONTENT_SECURITY_POLICY` | String | `{}` | Set [Content-Security-Policy](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTTP/CSP) headers as [helmet.js](https://helmetjs.github.io/#content-security-policy) nested directives object. For example, `{ "frame-ancestors": ["http://localhost:3000"] }` |
| `N8N_SECURE_COOKIE` | Boolean | `true` | Ensures that cookies are only sent over HTTPS, enhancing security. |
| `N8N_SAMESITE_COOKIE` | Enum string: `strict`, `lax`, `none` | `lax` | Controls cross-site cookie behavior (learn more):
strict: Sent only for first-party requests.lax (default): Sent with top-level navigation requests.none: Sent in all contexts (requires HTTPS).
|
| `N8N_GIT_NODE_DISABLE_BARE_REPOS` | Boolean | `false` | Set to `true` to prevent the [Git node](/integrations/builtin/core-nodes/n8n-nodes-base.git.md) from working with bare repositories, enhancing security. |
| `N8N_GIT_NODE_ENABLE_HOOKS` | Boolean | `false` | Set to `true` to allow the [Git node](/integrations/builtin/core-nodes/n8n-nodes-base.git.md) to execute Git hooks. |
## Security policy using environment variables
Set `N8N_SECURITY_POLICY_MANAGED_BY_ENV` to `true` to manage the security policy from environment variables. See [Manage instance settings using environment variables](/deploy/host-n8n/configure-n8n/manage-settings-using-environment-variables.md) for how the activation pattern works.
| Variable | Type | Default | Description |
| --------------------------------------- | ------- | ------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `N8N_SECURITY_POLICY_MANAGED_BY_ENV` | Boolean | `false` | Set to `true` to manage the security policy from environment variables. When `true`, n8n applies the security policy variables on every startup and locks the matching UI controls. |
| `N8N_MFA_ENFORCED_ENABLED` | Boolean | `false` | Whether to enforce two-factor authentication for all users (`true`) or not (`false`). |
| `N8N_PERSONAL_SPACE_PUBLISHING_ENABLED` | Boolean | `true` | Whether users can publish from their personal space (`true`) or not (`false`). |
| `N8N_PERSONAL_SPACE_SHARING_ENABLED` | Boolean | `true` | Whether users can share resources from their personal space (`true`) or not (`false`). |
---
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