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.
History

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 12:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 8.1, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N'}

ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}


Wed, 15 Apr 2026 15:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
References

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Apache
Apache airflow
Vendors & Products Apache
Apache airflow

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 01:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description 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.
Title Apache Airflow: RCE by race condition in example_xcom dag
Weaknesses CWE-94
References

cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: apache

Published: 2026-04-15T00:22:03.305Z

Updated: 2026-04-16T12:05:38.834Z

Reserved: 2025-07-24T21:10:16.628Z

Link: CVE-2025-54550

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-04-15T03:03:33.178Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Awaiting Analysis

Published: 2026-04-15T04:17:32.670

Modified: 2026-04-17T15:17:00.957

Link: CVE-2025-54550

cve-icon Redhat

No data.