Apache Airflow up to 3.1.x example_xcom code injection

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Apache Airflow up to 3.1.x and classified as critical. This issue affects the function example_xcom. The manipulation leads to code injection. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2025-54550. The attack is possible to be carried out remotely. No exploit exists. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Apache Airflow up to 3.1.x and classified as critical. This issue affects the function example_xcom. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a code injection vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-94. The product constructs all or part of a code segment using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the syntax or behavior of the intended code segment. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

The example example_xcom that was included in airflow documentation implemented unsafe pattern of reading value from xcom in the way that could be exploited to allow UI user who had access to modify XComs to perform arbitrary execution of code on the worker. Since the UI users are already highly trusted, this is a Low severity vulnerability. It does not affect Airflow release - example_dags are not supposed to be enabled in production environment, however users following the example could replicate the bad pattern. Documentation of Airflow 3.2.0 contains version of the example with improved resiliance for that case. Users who followed that pattern are advised to adjust their implementations accordingly.

The weakness was disclosed by Vincent55 Yang. It is possible to read the advisory at lists.apache.org. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2025-54550 since 07/24/2025. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack may be initiated remotely. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit. The pricing for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 04/16/2026). The attack technique deployed by this issue is T1059 according to MITRE ATT&CK.

Upgrading to version 3.2.0 eliminates this vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at CNNVD (CNNVD-202604-3306) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2026-1123). Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Affected

• Apache Airflow

Productinfo

Type

• Business Process Management Software

Vendor

• Apache

Name

• Airflow

Version

• 3.0
• 3.1

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.apache.org/

CPE 2.3info

• 🔒
• 🔒

CPE 2.2info

• 🔒
• 🔒

CVSSv4info

CVSSv3info

CVSSv2info

Exploitinginfo

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Countermeasuresinfo

Timelineinfo

Sourcesinfo

Entryinfo

Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Discussion