Apache Airflow: RCE by race condition in example_xcom dag

8.1 / 10

HIGH

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N

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.

Basic Information

ID CVE-2025-54550

Source apache

Published Apr 15, 2026 at 00:22

Modified Apr 16, 2026 at 12:05

Affected Product

Vendor Apache Software Foundation

Product Apache Airflow

Affected Versions Apache Software Foundation Apache Airflow 0

CWE Classification

CWE-94

References

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    "lastseen": "",
    "description": "The example example_xcom\u00a0that was included in airflow documentation implemented unsafe pattern of reading value\nfrom xcom in the way that could be exploited to allow UI user who had access to modify XComs to perform arbitrary\nexecution of code on the worker. Since the UI users are already highly trusted, this is a Low severity vulnerability.\n\nIt does not affect Airflow release - example_dags are not supposed to be enabled in production environment, however\nusers following the example could replicate the bad pattern. Documentation of Airflow 3.2.0 contains version of\nthe example with improved resiliance for that case.\n\nUsers who followed that pattern are advised to adjust their implementations accordingly.",
    "published": "2026-04-15T00:22:03.305Z",
    "modified": "2026-04-16T12:05:38.834Z",
    "type": "cve",
    "title": "Apache Airflow: RCE by race condition in example_xcom dag",
    "source": "apache",
    "references": "https://lists.apache.org/thread/3mf4cfx070ofsnf9qy0s2v5gqb5sc2g1\nhttps://github.com/apache/airflow/pull/63200",
    "id": "CVE-2025-54550",
    "bulletinFamily": "",
    "cwe": [
        "CWE-94"
    ],
    "cvelist": null,
    "sourceData": "Apache Software Foundation Apache Airflow 0",
    "sourceHref": "",
    "cvss": {
        "score": 8.1,
        "severity": "HIGH",
        "vector": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N",
        "version": "3.1"
    },
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        "cvssV3": {
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    "href": "",
    "category_name": "CVE",
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    "product": "Apache Airflow",
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}

Apache Airflow: RCE by race condition in example_xcom dag_CVE-2025-54550