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CVE-2026-59242

MEDIUM 5.4

Published 2026-08-12 · Last modified 2026-08-12

Apache Airflow's XCom `GET /api/v2/{...}/xcomEntries/{key}?deserialize=true` endpoint passed a string-literal payload through `BaseXCom.deserialize_value` without the `_check_forbidden_xcom_keys` guard, allowing an authenticated API user with XCom write-and-read access to instantiate arbitrary `airflow.*` classes on the API server (CWE-502). An authenticated user who can write an XCom value and then read it back with `deserialize=true` triggers the unsafe instantiation. Users are advised to upgrade to apache-airflow 3.3.1 or later, which rejects reserved XCom serialization keys submitted as JSON string literals.

NO EXPLOITATION SIGNALS

No known exploitation, public exploit, or elevated probability at this time. Track for changes.

Exploitation likelihood

0.6%chance of exploitation in 30 days · 46th percentile

○ In CISA KEV ○ Public exploit / PoC

Impact if exploited

5.4CVSS 3.1 · MEDIUM

  • ConfidentialityLow
  • IntegrityLow
  • AvailabilityNone

What an attacker needs

  • Access: Reachable over the network — no local access needed
  • Privileges: Requires a low-privilege account
  • User interaction: No user interaction needed
  • Complexity: No special conditions — reliably repeatable

✓ lowers the bar for an attacker · ⚠ raises it

Proof of concept & exploit code

Test against your own equipment

curl -s https://vulnpedia.com/cve/CVE-2026-59242/poc.jsonMachine-readable PoC index for this CVE (for automation).

Listed for defensive triage, patch verification, and authorized testing on systems you own. Machine-readable: /cve/CVE-2026-59242/poc.json

Affected

Vendors Apache Software Foundation Apache

Products Apache Airflow Airflow

Weakness (CWE)

  • CWE-502: : Deserialization of Untrusted Data

CVSS vector

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

Known Affected Software Configurations

VendorProductVersion range
ApacheAirflow< 3.3.1

All CVSS metrics

  • MEDIUM 5.4 v3.1 · ADP Primary
    CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N
  • MEDIUM 5.4 v3.1 · NVD Secondary
    CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N

References

Patches & mitigations

Advisories

Sources: NVD · CVE.org · EPSS