CVE-2026-58076

Apache Airflow: Unguarded import_string() of airflow_exc_ser / base_exc_ser exception nodes in BaseSerialization.deserialize enables DAG-author RCE on Scheduler / API Server

HIGH
8.8
CVSS Score
Published: August 12, 2026 at 03:40 PM UTC
Updated: October 24, 2026 at 04:10 PM UTC
1 product affected across 1 vendorAirflow

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Severity
HIGH8.8
Exploit prediction
EPSS 0.5%
SSVC
No known exploit

Description

Apache Airflow's serialization layer reconstructed exception nodes by calling `import_string()` on a class name taken from the serialized blob and instantiating it with arguments from the same blob, with no restriction on what could be imported. An operator's `executor_config` reaches that branch, so a Dag author could place a value there that causes an arbitrary callable to be imported and invoked -- for example `subprocess.check_output`, or `builtins.eval` on the `builtins`-prefixed variant. The code runs in the **Scheduler**, which reconstructs serialized Dags in its normal loop with no request involved, and in the **API server**, on any authenticated read of the Dag such as `GET /api/v2/dags/{dag_id}/details`. Both are components the Airflow security model states must never execute Dag-author code, and both hold the metadata database credentials and the JWT signing secret. No non-default configuration is required. This is a **different sink from CVE-2026-33264**, which covered only the trigger branch of the same deserializer: deployments that upgraded in response to that advisory are still affected through the exception branch and must upgrade again. Users are advised to upgrade to apache-airflow 3.3.1 or later, which restricts the imported class to a subclass of `BaseException`.

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

3.3.0 ≤ v < 3.3.13.0.0
Affected range stops below 3.3.1, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

Remediation

No guide yet

No remediation guidance has been written for this CVE yet. What the record does show:

References (3)

PatchIssue Tracking
Source: cverecord
https://github.com/apache/airflow/pull/68511
RelatedNot Applicable
Source: cverecord
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-33264
Vendor AdvisoryMailing List
Source: cverecord
https://lists.apache.org/thread/t81p688t15jozxsng8521o60nh2kfsos

SSVC — Action Prioritization

SSVCNo known exploitNot automatableTotal impact

SSVC signals action urgency (what to patch first), separate from CVSS which measures severity.

CVSS

8.8HIGHCISA-ADP
Attack Vector
NETWORK
Complexity
LOW
Privileges
LOW
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality
HIGH
Integrity
HIGH
Availability
HIGH
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusMODIFIED
CWE
CWE-502

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