CVE-2026-33264: Apache airflow Apache Airflow Allows Code Execution Vulnerability

CRITICAL
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-2943-9672-r45w
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CVSS 9.8
CWE-502
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-33264 is a CRITICAL (CVSS 9.8) apache airflow allows code execution vulnerability (CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data) affecting Apache airflow libraries in the PyPI ecosystem. The issue involves apache airflow allows code execution through unsafe serialized dag deserialization. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 3.3.0.

CVE-2026-33264 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-33264
GHSA Identifier GHSA-2943-9672-r45w
Severity CRITICAL
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 9.8
CWE Classification CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data
Affected Product Apache airflow
Package Ecosystem PyPI
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 9.8

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

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
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-2026-33264

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Apache airflow 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 fixed: 3.3.0 
pip install apache-airflow>=3.3.0
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

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Python environment is affected by CVE-2026-33264, inspect your installed packages using pip:

pip show apache-airflow

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Apache airflow in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 3.3.0), your application is affected.

Note: The pip show apache-airflow 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, 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

A bug in `BaseSerialization.deserialize()` allowed unrestricted `import_string()` of attacker-controlled class paths when the Scheduler / API Server loaded a serialized DAG: a DAG author could embed a malicious trigger into a DAG to gain remote code execution on the API Server / Scheduler process, crossing the Airflow security boundary that DAG-author code must never execute in those processes. Users are advised to upgrade to `apache-airflow` 3.3.0 or later. As a defense-in-depth mitigation, deployments where DAG-author trust is limited can restrict the `[core] allowed_deserialization_classes` config to a narrow allowlist.

CVE-2026-33264 Affected Apache airflow Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
3.3.0
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
apache-airflow
pypi/apache-airflow
PyPI
< 3.3.0
3.3.0

References

NVD — CVE-2026-33264 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-33264
Apache airflow Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/airflow/pull/66002
Apache airflow Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/airflow/pull/68528
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/airflow/commit/69b6c54ef17b048ebb0e9a656d0d9e1c99480d6b
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/airflow/commit/7e9bdb245e09373d91fcb7bda575ad4be63aa28d
Apache airflow Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/airflow
Apache airflow Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/apache-airflow/PYSEC-2026-2082.yaml
lists.apache.org/thread/otvdw8qt2y7x... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread/otvdw8qt2y7xy2n5nq9xby9ky4rf5ltj
Apache airflow Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/07/07/1

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-33264?
CVE-2026-33264 is a security vulnerability in Apache airflow involving Apache Airflow allows code execution through unsafe serialized DAG deserialization under CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data.
Which Apache airflow versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 3.3.0 across affected packages: apache-airflow.
What version fixes CVE-2026-33264?
Upgrading to 3.3.0 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is apache-airflow affected?
Yes, apache-airflow is affected in releases prior to 3.3.0. Upgrade your dependency to 3.3.0 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-33264?
CVE-2026-33264 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 (CRITICAL) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-33264?
CVE-2026-33264 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-2026-33264?
Run the dependency tree command: 'pip show apache-airflow'. 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-2943-9672-r45w",
  "modified" : "2026-09-04T19:23:01Z",
  "published" : "2026-07-07T12:31:35Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-33264" ],
  "summary" : "Apache Airflow allows code execution through unsafe serialized DAG deserialization",
  "details" : "A bug in `BaseSerialization.deserialize()` allowed unrestricted `import_string()` of attacker-controlled class paths when the Scheduler / API Server loaded a serialized DAG: a DAG author could embed a malicious trigger into a DAG to gain remote code execution on the API Server / Scheduler process, crossing the Airflow security boundary that DAG-author code must never execute in those processes. Users are advised to upgrade to `apache-airflow` 3.3.0 or later. As a defense-in-depth mitigation, deployments where DAG-author trust is limited can restrict the `[core] allowed_deserialization_classes` config to a narrow allowlist.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "PyPI",
      "name" : "apache-airflow"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "3.3.0"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-33264"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/airflow/pull/66002"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/airflow/pull/68528"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/airflow/commit/69b6c54ef17b048ebb0e9a656d0d9e1c99480d6b"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/airflow/commit/7e9bdb245e09373d91fcb7bda575ad4be63aa28d"
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  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/apache-airflow/PYSEC-2026-2082.yaml"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread/otvdw8qt2y7xy2n5nq9xby9ky4rf5ltj"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/07/07/1"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-502" ],
    "severity" : "CRITICAL",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-09-04T19:23:01Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2026-07-07T10:16:40Z"
  }
}