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` guar
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.
Affected software
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| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Python (PyPI) | apache-airflow | < 3.3.1 | 3.3.1 |
References
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-59242
- https://github.com/apache/airflow/pull/69378
- https://github.com/apache/airflow/commit/78abd3044654d44d711eb61e475029fd1b1ccc23
- https://github.com/apache/airflow/commit/d08ddc0127d5be7f9b31c1f935bc4d25a897a848
- https://github.com/apache/airflow
- https://github.com/apache/airflow/releases/tag/3.3.1
- https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/apache-airflow/PYSEC-2026-3992.yaml
- https://lists.apache.org/thread/dm0520yhh4mn7qknyoh45r2w6c5qg2mg
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/08/12/6
- https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-fcmm-42r9-mmmm
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-502- Platform
- Python (PyPI)
- Package
apache-airflow- Disclosed
- 12.08.2026
- Updated
- 15.10.2026 18:17
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - PYSEC-2026-3992 - PyPA Advisory Database; CC BY 4.0
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-fcmm-42r9-mmmm - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: apache-airflow
All published vulnerabilities of this package (Python (PyPI)), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
- Total entries
- 158
- First → latest
- 08.2018 09.2026
- Without a fix
- 4
- Exploited in attacks
- 2
Severity breakdown
- Critical 16
- High 49
- Medium 86
- Low 7
Disclosures per year
- 2018: 1
- 2019: 8
- 2020: 12
- 2021: 5
- 2022: 16
- 2023: 31
- 2024: 18
- 2025: 6
- 2026: 61
-
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` guar this entry
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