CVE-2025-54550

Apache Airflow: RCE by race condition in example_xcom dag

Published Apr 15, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 8.1 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
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.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Github GHSA Github GHSA GHSA-q2hg-643c-gw8h Withdrawn Advisory: Apache Airflow: RCE by race condition in example_xcom dag
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:apache:airflow:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
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'}

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

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
apache
Published
Updated
Nov 3, 2026, 7:01 AM
Reserved
Jul 24, 2025, 9:10 PM
Status
Analyzed
Published
Apr 15, 2026, 4:17 AM
Modified
Nov 3, 2026, 7:17 AM