CVE-2026-86792

Apache Airflow Apache Kafka provider: Connection-editor remote code execution on the Scheduler via Kafka connection callback configuration

HIGH
8.8
CVSS Score
Published: September 16, 2026 at 09:08 AM UTC
Updated: September 18, 2026 at 02:49 PM UTC
1 product affected across 1 vendorApache Airflow Providers Apache Kafka

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Severity
HIGH8.8
Exploit prediction
EPSS 1%
SSVC
No known exploit

Description

Apache Airflow Apache Kafka provider versions 1.15.0 before 2.0.0 resolve dotted-path strings found in a Kafka connection's `extra` field into Python callables via `import_string`, with no allowlist, and hand them to the confluent-kafka client which invokes them. Deployments that have enabled the Kafka event producer — `dag_run_events_enabled` or `task_instance_events_enabled`, both disabled by default — build that client inside the scheduler process, so a user whose only privilege is editing Airflow connections gains arbitrary code execution in the control plane; the Airflow security model limits connection-configuration users to code execution on workers, not the scheduler. Deployments using Google Managed Kafka are not affected, because that code path overwrites any user-supplied `oauth_cb`; plain brokers and Amazon MSK are exposed. Users are recommended to upgrade to apache-airflow-providers-apache-kafka 2.0.0 or later, which adds an allowlist configuration option for connection-string callbacks.

Affected

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

1.15.0 ≤ v < 2.0.01.15.0
Affected range stops below 2.0.0, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

References (4)

PatchVendor Advisory
Source: cverecord
https://github.com/apache/airflow/pull/72208
Vendor AdvisoryMailing List
Source: cverecord
https://lists.apache.org/thread/jl4gpok02313yh3rvtvj8qbo11c6zpr2
Mailing ListVendor Advisory
Source: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/09/15/15
Vendor AdvisoryMailing List
Source: cverecord
https://lists.apache.org/thread/[email protected]

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

StatusANALYZED
CWE
CWE-470

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