Apache Airflow: RCE by race condition in example_xcom dag

Exploitation

No confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next marks exploitation only from CISA KEV.

CVSS

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

EPSS

• CVE-2025-54550: 0.58% estimated exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 47.69 (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-03). This is a model estimate, not proof of exploitation or customer exposure.

As published by the source; long descriptions are shortened.

The example examplexcom 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 - exampledags 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.

Published by the source

16 Apr 2026, 15:31 UTC

Last modified by the source

13 Jul 2026, 16:43 UTC

Source last checked

3 Nov 2026, 18:05 UTC

1. Revision 3 · withdrawn · 3 Nov 2026

   Withdrawn upstream: ghsa record GHSA-q2hg-643c-gw8h

2. Revision 2 · amended · 26 Oct 2026

   Amended from ghsa record GHSA-q2hg-643c-gw8h

3. Revision 1 · created · 24 Oct 2026

   Published from osv record GHSA-q2hg-643c-gw8h

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# Patch Next advisory brief: CVE-2025-54550

Advisory: Apache Airflow: RCE by race condition in example_xcom dag
IDs: CVE-2025-54550, GHSA-q2hg-643c-gw8h
Record: https://patchnext.com/advisories/cve-2025-54550 (revision 3, source checked 3 Nov 2026, 18:05 UTC)
Inventory: none attached. This brief comes from a public page and does not say whether any deployment is affected.
Severity: High (CVSS 8.1)
Exploitation: no confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next confirms exploitation only from CISA KEV.
Vendor response: Vendor fix available; fixed versions by package: apache-airflow 3.2.0. A vendor fix does not mean a deployment is fixed.
Status: WITHDRAWN upstream. Do not act on this record without new evidence.

## Affected components
- PyPI apache-airflow: affected < 3.2.0; fixed in 3.2.0

## Suggested inspection (read-only)
- `python -m pip show apache-airflow`: prints the installed version. Run with the environment that serves production active.

## Supported action
Upgrade each affected component to a fixed version on its release line. For a transitive dependency, upgrade the parent package or add an override or constraint, then regenerate the lockfile. Redeploy every environment that ran an affected version.

## Required regression checks
- Run the test suite and a production build.
- Exercise the features that depend on apache-airflow.
- Repeat the inspection and confirm that only fixed versions remain installed.

## Rollback considerations
- Keep the previous lockfile and deployment artifact. Rolling back reinstates the vulnerable version, so apply any documented mitigation while you fix forward.

## Unresolved questions
- Which deployments run an affected version?
- Exploitation status can change. Check again before lowering the priority.
- Mark the work resolved only after the fixed version is verified in production.

## Sources
- Verified: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/GHSA-q2hg-643c-gw8h (OSV record GHSA-q2hg-643c-gw8h lists affected ranges: PyPI apache-airflow >=0 <3.2.0 (fixed))
- Verified: https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-q2hg-643c-gw8h (GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-q2hg-643c-gw8h lists affected ranges: PyPI apache-airflow >=0 <3.2.0)
- Verified: https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-q2hg-643c-gw8h (ghsa record GHSA-q2hg-643c-gw8h is marked withdrawn upstream (as of 2026-11-03T17:39:31Z).)

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