Code Injection in apache-airflow (CVE-2025-54550)
Summary
Code injection in apache-airflow (CVE-2025-54550). Confidential information can be exposed externally. Mitigation: upgrade to 3.2.0 or later.
Original description
The description as published by the source.
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.
Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database NVD GitHub Advisory
Auto-generated summary
Assembled by SecPulse from the source data (CVSS, CWE, affected versions) using templates — no AI involved. Check the original description and references below for exact details.
A vulnerability tracked as CVE-2025-54550 has been found in apache-airflow.
Confidential information can be exposed externally. CVSS score: 8.1/10.
What to do: upgrade apache-airflow to 3.2.0 or later.
If unsure, ask your IT team or search "apache-airflow CVE-2025-54550" on the vendor's site.
CVE-2025-54550 (apache-airflow) — CWE-94 / CVSS v3 8.1
Attack vector: remote (network-reachable) / no user interaction
Patched: 3.2.0 — apply immediately
Plan: 1) Audit SBOM/dependencies, 2) Stage→prod upgrade, 3) Add WAF/proxy monitoring on affected endpoints, 4) Hunt IOCs in logs.
Refs: see the GHSA / vendor advisory / patched release linked on this page.
Arbitrary code execution (CWE-94) exists in apache-airflow.
Check the vendor advisory for the affected versions of apache-airflow.
Severity: High (CVSS 8.1/10). Confidential information can be exposed externally.
Update to 3.2.0.
Until the patch is applied: disable the affected feature, apply WAF rules, or restrict access via network ACLs.
Search webserver/proxy logs for unusual request patterns matching this CVE's known IOCs. Run grep -r 'apache-airflow' . against your dependency files (package-lock.json, requirements.txt, go.sum) to find affected services.
Response actions
Concrete steps and command examples for SOC/SRE teams to execute in order
-
1Identify exposure identify
grep -r 'apache-airflow' . | grep -v node_modulesリポジトリと本番環境の依存ファイル (package-lock.json / requirements.txt / go.sum / Gemfile.lock 等) で
apache-airflowを grep し、稼働しているサービス・バージョンを把握する。 -
2Apply patch patch
Upgrade apache-airflow to 3.2.0ステージング環境で 3.2.0 に上げて回帰テスト → 本番反映。回帰テストはアプリの主要ハッピーパスを含めること。
-
3Post-deployment verification verify
Confirm patched version is live in productionパッチ適用後、ステージングで PoC または同等の悪用パターンを再現して脆弱性が閉じたことを確認。本番ではアクセスログ・WAF でアラート再発が無いか継続監視。
Affected packages
References
- advisory lists.apache.org
- advisory openwall.com
- package github.com
- report github.com
- web nvd.nist.gov