CVE-2026-59242

Apache Airflow's XCom `GET /api/v2/{...}/xcomEntries/{key}?deserialize=true` endpoint passed a string-literal payload through `BaseXCom.deserialize_value` without the `_check_forbidden_xcom_keys` guard, allowing an authenticated API user with XCom write-and-read access to instantiate arbitrary `airflow.*` classes on the API server (CWE-502). An authenticated user who can write an XCom value and then read it back with `deserialize=true` triggers the unsafe instantiation. Users are advised to upgrade to apache-airflow 3.3.1 or later, which rejects reserved XCom serialization keys submitted as JSON string literals.

CVSS v3 5.4 MEDIUM

5.4^/10

CVSS v3 : MEDIUM

Vector :

Exploitability : 2.8 / Impact : 2.5

Attack Vector NETWORK

Attack Complexity LOW

Privileges Required LOW

User Interaction NONE

Confidentiality Impact LOW

Integrity Impact LOW

Availability Impact NONE

Scope UNCHANGED

References

Link	Resource
https://github.com/apache/airflow/pull/69378	Issue Tracking Patch
https://lists.apache.org/thread/dm0520yhh4mn7qknyoh45r2w6c5qg2mg	Mailing List Vendor Advisory
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/08/12/6	Mailing List Third Party Advisory

Configurations

Configuration 1 (hide)

cpe:2.3:a:apache:airflow:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

History

No history.

Information

Published : 2026-08-12 16:17

Updated : 2026-09-16 15:17

NVD link : CVE-2026-59242

Mitre link : CVE-2026-59242

CVE.ORG link : CVE-2026-59242

JSON object : View

Products Affected

apache

airflow

CWE

CWE-502

Deserialization of Untrusted Data

{"id": "CVE-2026-59242", "cveTags": [], "metrics": {"ssvcV203": [{"source": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0", "ssvcData": {"id": "CVE-2026-59242", "role": "CISA Coordinator", "options": [{"exploitation": "none"}, {"automatable": "no"}, {"technicalImpact": "partial"}], "version": "2.0.3", "timestamp": "2026-08-12T16:41:51.650384Z"}}], "cvssMetricV31": [{"type": "Secondary", "source": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0", "cvssData": {"scope": "UNCHANGED", "version": "3.1", "baseScore": 5.4, "attackVector": "NETWORK", "baseSeverity": "MEDIUM", "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N", "integrityImpact": "LOW", "userInteraction": "NONE", "attackComplexity": "LOW", "availabilityImpact": "NONE", "privilegesRequired": "LOW", "confidentialityImpact": "LOW"}, "impactScore": 2.5, "exploitabilityScore": 2.8}]}, "affected": [{"source": "security@apache.org", "affectedData": [{"vendor": "Apache Software Foundation", "product": "Apache Airflow", "versions": [{"status": "affected", "version": "0", "lessThan": "3.3.1", "versionType": "semver"}], "packageURL": "pkg:pypi/apache-airflow", "packageName": "apache-airflow", "collectionURL": "https://pypi.python.org", "defaultStatus": "unaffected"}]}], "published": "2026-08-12T16:17:09.067", "references": [{"url": "https://github.com/apache/airflow/pull/69378", "tags": ["Issue Tracking", "Patch"], "source": "security@apache.org"}, {"url": "https://lists.apache.org/thread/dm0520yhh4mn7qknyoh45r2w6c5qg2mg", "tags": ["Mailing List", "Vendor Advisory"], "source": "security@apache.org"}, {"url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/08/12/6", "tags": ["Mailing List", "Third Party Advisory"], "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"}], "vulnStatus": "Analyzed", "weaknesses": [{"type": "Secondary", "source": "security@apache.org", "description": [{"lang": "en", "value": "CWE-502"}]}], "descriptions": [{"lang": "en", "value": "Apache Airflow's XCom `GET /api/v2/{...}/xcomEntries/{key}?deserialize=true` endpoint passed a string-literal payload through `BaseXCom.deserialize_value` without the `_check_forbidden_xcom_keys` guard, allowing an authenticated API user with XCom write-and-read access to instantiate arbitrary `airflow.*` classes on the API server (CWE-502). An authenticated user who can write an XCom value and then read it back with `deserialize=true` triggers the unsafe instantiation. Users are advised to upgrade to apache-airflow 3.3.1 or later, which rejects reserved XCom serialization keys submitted as JSON string literals."}], "lastModified": "2026-09-16T15:17:38.930", "configurations": [{"nodes": [{"negate": false, "cpeMatch": [{"criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:apache:airflow:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*", "vulnerable": true, "matchCriteriaId": "FDF5E090-3549-452E-BB3A-741DCE15078E", "versionEndExcluding": "3.3.1"}], "operator": "OR"}]}], "sourceIdentifier": "security@apache.org"}