CVE-2026-42359
Apache Airflow: Authenticated RCE via XCom PATCH endpoint — XComUpdateBody missing FORBIDDEN_XCOM_KEYS validator
Description
A bug in Apache Airflow's XCom PATCH endpoint `PATCH /api/v2/xcomEntries/{key}` allowed an authenticated UI/API user with XCom write permission on a Dag to set XCom entries under reserved key names (e.g. `return_value`) that the matching POST endpoint already validated against `FORBIDDEN_XCOM_KEYS`. The endpoint also accepted serialized payload shapes the triggerer's deserializer treats as code; combined, this allowed RCE on the triggerer when the affected task next deferred. Affects deployments where untrusted users have XCom write permission on Dags that defer to the triggerer. This is a fix-bypass of CVE-2026-33858: PR #64148 added the `FORBIDDEN_XCOM_KEYS` validator only on the POST/set path; the PATCH path was not covered. Users who already upgraded for CVE-2026-33858 should additionally upgrade to `apache-airflow` 3.2.2 or later to cover the PATCH-path bypass.
INFO
Published Date :
June 1, 2026, 9:16 a.m.
Last Modified :
June 3, 2026, 2:07 a.m.
Remotely Exploit :
Yes !
Source :
[email protected]
CVSS Scores
| Score | Version | Severity | Vector | Exploitability Score | Impact Score | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | HIGH | 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0 |
Solution
- Upgrade Apache Airflow to version 2.9.3 or later.
- Ensure users have appropriate XCom write permissions.
- Restrict access to the Airflow API.
References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools
Here, you will find a curated list of external links that provide in-depth
information, practical solutions, and valuable tools related to
CVE-2026-42359.
| URL | Resource |
|---|---|
| https://github.com/apache/airflow/pull/65915 | Issue Tracking Patch |
| https://lists.apache.org/thread/g8dqykpf1p90tysq8tln4qtkqwb1038s | Mailing List Vendor Advisory |
| https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-33858 | Third Party Advisory |
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration
While CVE identifies
specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or
weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2026-42359 is
associated with the following CWEs:
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification
(CAPEC)
stores attack patterns, which are descriptions of the common attributes and
approaches employed by adversaries to exploit the CVE-2026-42359
weaknesses.
We scan GitHub repositories to detect new proof-of-concept exploits. Following list is a collection of public exploits and proof-of-concepts, which have been published on GitHub (sorted by the most recently updated).
Results are limited to the first 15 repositories due to potential performance issues.
The following list is the news that have been mention
CVE-2026-42359 vulnerability anywhere in the article.
The following table lists the changes that have been made to the
CVE-2026-42359 vulnerability over time.
Vulnerability history details can be useful for understanding the evolution of a vulnerability, and for identifying the most recent changes that may impact the vulnerability's severity, exploitability, or other characteristics.
-
Initial Analysis by [email protected]
Jun. 03, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added CPE Configuration OR *cpe:2.3:a:apache:airflow:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 3.2.0 up to (excluding) 3.2.2 Added Reference Type Apache Software Foundation: https://github.com/apache/airflow/pull/65915 Types: Issue Tracking, Patch Added Reference Type Apache Software Foundation: https://lists.apache.org/thread/g8dqykpf1p90tysq8tln4qtkqwb1038s Types: Mailing List, Vendor Advisory Added Reference Type Apache Software Foundation: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-33858 Types: Third Party Advisory -
CVE Modified by 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0
Jun. 02, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added CVSS V3.1 AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H -
CVE Modified by [email protected]
Jun. 01, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Reference https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-33858 -
New CVE Received by [email protected]
Jun. 01, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Description A bug in Apache Airflow's XCom PATCH endpoint `PATCH /api/v2/xcomEntries/{key}` allowed an authenticated UI/API user with XCom write permission on a Dag to set XCom entries under reserved key names (e.g. `return_value`) that the matching POST endpoint already validated against `FORBIDDEN_XCOM_KEYS`. The endpoint also accepted serialized payload shapes the triggerer's deserializer treats as code; combined, this allowed RCE on the triggerer when the affected task next deferred. Affects deployments where untrusted users have XCom write permission on Dags that defer to the triggerer. This is a fix-bypass of CVE-2026-33858: PR #64148 added the `FORBIDDEN_XCOM_KEYS` validator only on the POST/set path; the PATCH path was not covered. Users who already upgraded for CVE-2026-33858 should additionally upgrade to `apache-airflow` 3.2.2 or later to cover the PATCH-path bypass. Added CWE CWE-502 Added Reference https://github.com/apache/airflow/pull/65915 Added Reference https://lists.apache.org/thread/g8dqykpf1p90tysq8tln4qtkqwb1038s