CVE-2026-25917: Apache airflow core Apache Airflow Allows Code Execution Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-6ffj-2wg2-w45j
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CVSS 7.2
CWE-502
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-25917 is a HIGH (CVSS 7.2) apache airflow allows code execution vulnerability (CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data) affecting Apache airflow core libraries in the PyPI ecosystem. The issue involves apache airflow allows code execution through crafted xcom payloads. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 3.2.0.

CVE-2026-25917 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-25917
GHSA Identifier GHSA-6ffj-2wg2-w45j
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 7.2
CWE Classification CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data
Affected Product Apache airflow core
Package Ecosystem PyPI
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 7.2

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required High (PR:H)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality High (C:H)
Integrity High (I:H)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2026-25917

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Apache airflow core dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

apache-airflow-core fixed: 3.2.0 
pip install apache-airflow-core>=3.2.0
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

pip show apache-airflow-core

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Python environment is affected by CVE-2026-25917, inspect your installed packages using pip:

pip show apache-airflow-core

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Apache airflow core in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 3.2.0), your application is affected.

Note: The pip show apache-airflow-core command checks currently installed packages in your active Python environment.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data, where the product deserializes untrusted data without sufficiently ensuring that the resulting data will be valid. In Apache airflow core, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

Dag Authors, who normally should not be able to execute code in the webserver context could craft XCom payload causing the webserver to execute arbitrary code. Since Dag Authors are already highly trusted, severity of this issue is Low. Users are recommended to upgrade to Apache Airflow 3.2.0, which fixes the issue.

CVE-2026-25917 Affected Apache airflow core Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
3.2.0
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
apache-airflow-core
pypi/apache-airflow-core
PyPI
< 3.2.0
3.2.0

References

lists.apache.org/thread/6whgpkqbh12r... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread/6whgpkqbh12rvpfmvcg8b0vwlv4hq3po
NVD — CVE-2026-25917 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-25917
Apache airflow core Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/airflow/pull/61641
Apache airflow core Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/airflow
Apache airflow core Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/apache-airflow/PYSEC-2026-13.yaml
Apache airflow core Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/04/17/9

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-25917?
CVE-2026-25917 is a security vulnerability in Apache airflow core involving Apache Airflow allows code execution through crafted XCom payloads under CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data.
Which Apache airflow core versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 3.2.0 across affected packages: apache-airflow-core.
What version fixes CVE-2026-25917?
Upgrading to 3.2.0 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is apache-airflow-core affected?
Yes, apache-airflow-core is affected in releases prior to 3.2.0. Upgrade your dependency to 3.2.0 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-25917?
CVE-2026-25917 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.2 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-25917?
CVE-2026-25917 is classified under CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data (The product deserializes untrusted data without sufficiently ensuring that the resulting data will be valid.).
How can I check PyPI dependencies for CVE-2026-25917?
Run the dependency tree command: 'pip show apache-airflow-core'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-6ffj-2wg2-w45j",
  "modified" : "2026-06-05T14:29:30Z",
  "published" : "2026-04-18T09:30:20Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-25917" ],
  "summary" : "Apache Airflow allows code execution through crafted XCom payloads",
  "details" : "Dag Authors, who normally should not be able to execute code in the webserver context could craft XCom payload causing the webserver to execute arbitrary code. Since Dag Authors are already highly trusted, severity of this issue is Low. Users are recommended to upgrade to Apache Airflow 3.2.0, which fixes the issue.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "PyPI",
      "name" : "apache-airflow-core"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "3.2.0"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-25917"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/airflow/pull/61641"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/airflow"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/apache-airflow/PYSEC-2026-13.yaml"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread/6whgpkqbh12rvpfmvcg8b0vwlv4hq3po"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/04/17/9"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-502" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-04-21T22:50:35Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2026-04-18T07:16:09Z"
  }
}