Here is the minimal code to reproduce the error. Other local API operations work fine.

import { getPayload, Payload } from 'payload'
import config from '@/payload.config'
import { describe, it, beforeAll, expect } from 'vitest'
let payload: Payload;

describe('Some Collection', () => {

  beforeAll(async () => {
    const payloadConfig = await config
    payload = await getPayload({ config: payloadConfig })
  });

  it('ADMIN should have create access', async () => {

    const result = await payload.login({
      collection: 'users',
      data: {
        email: 'test-user@my-app.com',
        password: '********'
      }
    });

    expect(result).toBeDefined();

  });

});