CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2026-40961NVD status: Analyzed

Apache Airflow: URL Redirection to Untrusted Site

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2026-40961 is a high-severity URL redirection to untrusted site vulnerability in Apache Airflow from Apache, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.2 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists version 3.2.2 as the first without the flaw, so updating Apache Airflow to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.65% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 52% of scored CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Update Apache Airflow to 3.2.2 or a later version.
  2. Update Airflow to 3.2.2 or a later version.
  3. Read the advisory on lists.apache.org for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
  4. Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
ApacheApache Airflow3.0.0 up to, but not including, 3.2.23.2.2
ApacheAirflow3.0.0 up to, but not including, 3.2.23.2.2

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
NoneNo account or login is needed.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
ChangedThe attack can reach beyond the vulnerable component into other systems.
Confidentiality
LowSome restricted data can be read.
Integrity
LowLimited modification of data is possible.
Availability
NoneAvailability is not affected.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N. Scored by CISA (ADP).

Official description

A bug in the login redirect route in Apache Airflow allowed authenticated users to craft URLs that bypassed the `is_safe_url` check, enabling redirection from a trusted Airflow domain to an attacker-controlled origin. Users are advised to upgrade to `apache-airflow` 3.2.2 or later. As a defense-in-depth mitigation, deployment operators can place Airflow behind a reverse proxy that strips off-domain `next=` query parameters before they reach the login endpoint.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: URL Redirection to Untrusted Site

The web application accepts a user-controlled input that specifies a link to an external site, and uses that link in a redirect.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Use an intermediate disclaimer page that provides the user with a clear warning that they are leaving the current site. Implement a long timeout before the redirect occurs, or force the user to click on the link. Be careful to avoid XSS problems (CWE-79) when generating the disclaimer page.
  • When the set of acceptable objects, such as filenames or URLs, is limited or known, create a mapping from a set of fixed input values (such as numeric IDs) to the actual filenames or URLs, and reject all other inputs. For example, ID 1 could map to /login.asp and ID 2 could map to http://www.example.com/. Features such as the ESAPI AccessReferenceMap provide this capability.
  • Ensure that no externally-supplied requests are honored by requiring that all redirect requests include a unique nonce generated by the application. Be sure that the nonce is not predictable (CWE-330).

More URL Redirection to Untrusted Site vulnerabilities (CWE-601)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: partial).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Patches and release notes

Third-party and government advisories

Other vulnerabilities in Apache Airflow

All Apache Airflow vulnerabilities

Recent URL Redirection to Untrusted Site vulnerabilities

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