CVE-2026-38743: Apache airflow Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-p3v3-229h-mc63
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CVSS 4.3
CWE-1220
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-38743 is a MODERATE (CVSS 4.3) remote code execution vulnerability (CWE-1220: Insufficient Granularity of Access Control) affecting Apache airflow libraries in the PyPI ecosystem. The issue involves apache airflow's authenticated /ui/dags endpoint did not enforce per-dag access control on embedded human-in-the-loop (hitl) and taskinstance record. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 3.2.1rc1.

CVE-2026-38743 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-38743
GHSA Identifier GHSA-p3v3-229h-mc63
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 4.3
CWE Classification CWE-1220: Insufficient Granularity of Access Control
Affected Product Apache airflow
Package Ecosystem PyPI
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 4.3

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

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

How to Fix CVE-2026-38743

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: 3.2.1rc1 
pip install apache-airflow>=3.2.1rc1
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-2026-38743, 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 3.2.1rc1), 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-1220: Insufficient Granularity of Access Control, where the product implements access controls via a policy or other feature with the intention to disable or restrict accesses (reads and/or writes) to assets in a system from untrusted agents. however, implemented access controls lack required granularity, which renders the control policy too broad because it allows accesses from unauthorized agents to the security-sensitive assets. 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

The authenticated /ui/dags endpoint did not enforce per-DAG access control on embedded Human-in-the-Loop (HITL) and TaskInstance records: a logged-in Airflow user with read access to at least one DAG could retrieve HITL prompts (including their request parameters) and full TaskInstance details for DAGs outside their authorized scope. Because HITL prompts and TaskInstance fields routinely carry operator parameters and free-form context attached to a task, the leak widens visibility of DAG-run data beyond the intended per-DAG RBAC boundary for every authenticated user. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 3.2.1 , which fixes this issue.

CVE-2026-38743 Affected Apache airflow Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
3.2.1rc1
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
apache-airflow
pypi/apache-airflow
PyPI
< 3.2.1rc1
3.2.1rc1

References

NVD — CVE-2026-38743 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-38743
Apache airflow Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/airflow/pull/64822
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/airflow/commit/fed4921098d51fd3ec17b7f5cff80f6c36fd05e2
Apache airflow Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/airflow
lists.apache.org/thread/sk2wj0x48o8q... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread/sk2wj0x48o8qb4p7c47gvnhjbm0mg396
Apache airflow Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/04/24/3

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-38743?
CVE-2026-38743 is a security vulnerability in Apache airflow involving Apache Airflow's authenticated /ui/dags endpoint did not enforce per-DAG access control on embedded Human-in-the-Loop (HITL) and TaskInstance record under CWE-1220: Insufficient Granularity of Access Control.
Which Apache airflow versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 3.2.1rc1 across affected packages: apache-airflow.
What version fixes CVE-2026-38743?
Upgrading to 3.2.1rc1 (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 3.2.1rc1. Upgrade your dependency to 3.2.1rc1 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-38743?
CVE-2026-38743 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 4.3 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-38743?
CVE-2026-38743 is classified under CWE-1220: Insufficient Granularity of Access Control (The product implements access controls via a policy or other feature with the intention to disable or restrict accesses (reads and/or writes) to assets in a system from untrusted agents. However, implemented access controls lack required granularity, which renders the control policy too broad because it allows accesses from unauthorized agents to the security-sensitive assets.).
How can I check PyPI dependencies for CVE-2026-38743?
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-p3v3-229h-mc63",
  "modified" : "2026-05-05T18:11:27Z",
  "published" : "2026-04-24T15:32:32Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-38743" ],
  "summary" : "Apache Airflow's authenticated /ui/dags endpoint did not enforce per-DAG access control on embedded Human-in-the-Loop (HITL) and TaskInstance record",
  "details" : "The authenticated /ui/dags endpoint did not enforce per-DAG access control on embedded Human-in-the-Loop (HITL) and TaskInstance records: a logged-in Airflow user with read access to at least one DAG could retrieve HITL prompts (including their request parameters) and full TaskInstance details for DAGs outside their authorized scope. Because HITL prompts and TaskInstance fields routinely carry operator parameters and free-form context attached to a task, the leak widens visibility of DAG-run data beyond the intended per-DAG RBAC boundary for every authenticated user.\n\nUsers are recommended to upgrade to version 3.2.1 , which fixes this issue.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "PyPI",
      "name" : "apache-airflow"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
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      }, {
        "fixed" : "3.2.1rc1"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-38743"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/airflow/pull/64822"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/airflow/commit/fed4921098d51fd3ec17b7f5cff80f6c36fd05e2"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/airflow"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread/sk2wj0x48o8qb4p7c47gvnhjbm0mg396"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/04/24/3"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-1220" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-05-05T18:11:27Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2026-04-24T13:16:21Z"
  }
}