CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2026-41084NVD status: Analyzed

Apache Airflow: Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2026-41084 is a high-severity authorization bypass through user-controlled key vulnerability in Apache Airflow from Apache, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 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 0.48% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other 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 Airflow3.2.0 up to, but not including, 3.2.23.2.2
ApacheAirflow3.2.0 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
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
NoneNo data is disclosed.
Integrity
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
NoneAvailability is not affected.

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

Official description

A bug in Apache Airflow's bulk Task Instances API (`PATCH/DELETE /api/v2/dags/{dag_id}/dagRuns/{dag_run_id}/taskInstances`) evaluated authorization against the `dag_id` resolved from the URL path while operating on the `dag_id` / `dag_run_id` extracted from request-body entity fields. An authenticated UI/API user with edit permission on one Dag could mutate Task Instance state in any other Dag by keeping the authorized Dag's ID in the URL path and naming the target Dag's IDs in the request body entities. Affects deployments that rely on per-Dag edit-scope to keep Task Instance state isolated between teams. Users are advised to upgrade to `apache-airflow` 3.2.2 or later.

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

The underlying weakness: Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key

The system's authorization functionality does not prevent one user from gaining access to another user's data or record by modifying the key value identifying the data.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • For each and every data access, ensure that the user has sufficient privilege to access the record that is being requested.
  • Make sure that the key that is used in the lookup of a specific user's record is not controllable externally by the user or that any tampering can be detected.
  • Use encryption in order to make it more difficult to guess other legitimate values of the key or associate a digital signature with the key so that the server can verify that there has been no tampering.

More Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key vulnerabilities (CWE-639)

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 Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key vulnerabilities

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