CVE-2026-27173: Apache airflow providers cncf kubernetes JWT Token Exposure Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-524w-vq63-2xhf
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CVSS 8.7
CWE-538
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-27173 is a HIGH (CVSS 8.7) jwt token exposure vulnerability (CWE-538: Insertion of Sensitive Information into Externally-Accessible File or Directory) affecting Apache airflow providers cncf kubernetes libraries in the PyPI ecosystem. The issue involves jwt token exposure in kubernetesexecutor command-line arguments. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 10.17.0.

CVE-2026-27173 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-27173
GHSA Identifier GHSA-524w-vq63-2xhf
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 8.7
CWE Classification CWE-538: Insertion of Sensitive Information into Externally-Accessible File or Directory
Affected Product Apache airflow providers cncf kubernetes
Package Ecosystem PyPI
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 8.7

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

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

How to Fix CVE-2026-27173

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Apache airflow providers cncf kubernetes 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-providers-cncf-kubernetes fixed: 10.17.0 
pip install apache-airflow-providers-cncf-kubernetes>=10.17.0
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-providers-cncf-kubernetes

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Python environment is affected by CVE-2026-27173, inspect your installed packages using pip:

pip show apache-airflow-providers-cncf-kubernetes

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Apache airflow providers cncf kubernetes in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 10.17.0), your application is affected.

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

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-538: Insertion of Sensitive Information into Externally-Accessible File or Directory, where the product places sensitive information into files or directories that are accessible to actors who are allowed to have access to the files, but not to the sensitive information. In Apache airflow providers cncf kubernetes, 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

JWT tokens that were used by workers in Kubernetes Executors have been exposed to users who had read only access to Kuberentes Pods. This could allow users with just read-only access to perform actions that were only available to running tasks via Task SDK and potentially allow to modify state of Airflow Database for tasks.

CVE-2026-27173 Affected Apache airflow providers cncf kubernetes Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
10.17.0
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
apache-airflow-providers-cncf-kubernetes
pypi/apache-airflow-providers-cncf-kubernetes
PyPI
< 10.17.0
10.17.0

References

NVD — CVE-2026-27173 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-27173
Apache airflow providers cncf kubernetes Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/airflow/pull/60108
Apache airflow providers cncf kubernetes Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/airflow
lists.apache.org/thread/pk3m2z4s2rkm... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread/pk3m2z4s2rkmc0v6gh9hnch9spc6stqw
Apache airflow providers cncf kubernetes Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/05/19/35

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-27173?
CVE-2026-27173 is a security vulnerability in Apache airflow providers cncf kubernetes involving JWT Token Exposure in KubernetesExecutor Command-Line Arguments under CWE-538: Insertion of Sensitive Information into Externally-Accessible File or Directory.
Which Apache airflow providers cncf kubernetes versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 10.17.0 across affected packages: apache-airflow-providers-cncf-kubernetes.
What version fixes CVE-2026-27173?
Upgrading to 10.17.0 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is apache-airflow-providers-cncf-kubernetes affected?
Yes, apache-airflow-providers-cncf-kubernetes is affected in releases prior to 10.17.0. Upgrade your dependency to 10.17.0 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-27173?
CVE-2026-27173 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.7 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:L.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-27173?
CVE-2026-27173 is classified under CWE-538: Insertion of Sensitive Information into Externally-Accessible File or Directory (The product places sensitive information into files or directories that are accessible to actors who are allowed to have access to the files, but not to the sensitive information.).
How can I check PyPI dependencies for CVE-2026-27173?
Run the dependency tree command: 'pip show apache-airflow-providers-cncf-kubernetes'. 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-524w-vq63-2xhf",
  "modified" : "2026-06-05T16:37:13Z",
  "published" : "2026-05-19T21:32:03Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-27173" ],
  "summary" : "Apache Airflow CNCF Kubernetes provider: JWT Token Exposure in KubernetesExecutor Command-Line Arguments",
  "details" : "JWT tokens that were used by workers in Kubernetes Executors have been exposed to users who had read only access to Kuberentes Pods. This could allow users with just read-only access to perform actions that were only available to running tasks via Task SDK and potentially allow to modify state of Airflow Database for tasks.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:L"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "PyPI",
      "name" : "apache-airflow-providers-cncf-kubernetes"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "10.17.0"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-27173"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/airflow/pull/60108"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/airflow"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread/pk3m2z4s2rkmc0v6gh9hnch9spc6stqw"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/05/19/35"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-538" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-06-05T16:37:13Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2026-05-19T20:16:17Z"
  }
}