Apache Airflow up to 3.2.x Bulk Variables API missing encryption

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability labeled as problematic has been found in Apache Airflow up to 3.2.x. The affected element is an unknown function of the component Bulk Variables API. Executing a manipulation can lead to missing encryption. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2026-48828. The attack may be launched remotely. There is no exploit available.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as problematic was found in Apache Airflow up to 3.2.x. This vulnerability affects an unknown part of the component Bulk Variables API. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a missing encryption vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-311. The product does not encrypt sensitive or critical information before storage or transmission. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality. CVE summarizes:

The Bulk Variables API in Apache Airflow called the redactor without passing the variable's key, so the key-based `should_hide_value_for_key` check (which triggers on secret-suffixed key names like `*_password` / `*_token` / `*_secret`) could not fire for JSON-decodable variable values. An authenticated UI/API user with bulk Variable read permission could retrieve plaintext values from JSON variables whose key would otherwise trigger redaction. Affects deployments that store sensitive values in JSON-typed Airflow Variables under secret-suffixed key names. Users are advised to upgrade to `apache-airflow` 3.3.0 or later (the fix landed on `main` after 3.2.2; no 3.2.x backport).

The advisory is shared for download at github.com. This vulnerability was named CVE-2026-48828 since 05/23/2026. The exploitation appears to be difficult. The attack can be initiated remotely. There are neither technical details nor an exploit publicly available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $0-$5k (estimation calculated on 07/07/2026). The MITRE ATT&CK project declares the attack technique as T1600.

Upgrading to version 3.3.0 eliminates this vulnerability.

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Productinfo

Type

• Business Process Management Software

Vendor

• Apache

Name

• Airflow

Version

• 3.0
• 3.1
• 3.2

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.apache.org/
• Product: https://github.com/apache/airflow/

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