CVE-2025-54550 | Apache Airflow up to 3.1.x example_xcom code injection

VDB-357647 · CVE-2025-54550 · GCVE-0-2025-54550 APACHE AIRFLOW UP TO 3.1.X EXAMPLE_XCOM CODE INJECTION HISTORYDIFFRELATEJSONXMLCTI CVSS Meta Temp Score Current Exploit Price (≈) CTI Interest Score 6.0 $0-$5k 1.81+ Summaryinfo A vulnerability has been found in Apache Airflow up to 3.1.x and classified as critical. This issue affects the function example_xcom. The manipulation leads to code injection. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2025-54550. The attack is possible to be carried out remotely. No exploit exists. The affected component should be upgraded. Detailsinfo A vulnerability was found in Apache Airflow up to 3.1.x and classified as critical. This issue affects the function example_xcom. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a code injection vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-94. The product constructs all or part of a code segment using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the syntax or behavior of the intended code segment. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is: The example example_xcom 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 - example_dags 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. The weakness was disclosed by Vincent55 Yang. It is possible to read the advisory at lists.apache.org. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2025-54550 since 07/24/2025. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack may be initiated remotely. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit. The pricing for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 04/15/2026). The attack technique deployed by this issue is T1059 according to MITRE ATT&CK. Upgrading to version 3.2.0 eliminates this vulnerability. Productinfo Type Business Process Management Software Vendor Apache Name Airflow Version 3.0 3.1 License open-source Website Vendor: https://www.apache.org/ CPE 2.3info 🔒 🔒 CPE 2.2info 🔒 🔒 CVSSv4info VulDB Vector: 🔒 VulDB Reliability: 🔍 CVSSv3info VulDB Meta Base Score: 6.3 VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.0 VulDB Base Score: 6.3 VulDB Temp Score: 6.0 VulDB Vector: 🔒 VulDB Reliability: 🔍 CVSSv2info Vector Complexity Authentication Confidentiality Integrity Availability Unlock Unlock Unlock Unlock Unlock Unlock Unlock Unlock Unlock Unlock Unlock Unlock Unlock Unlock Unlock Unlock Unlock Unlock VulDB Base Score: 🔒 VulDB Temp Score: 🔒 VulDB Reliability: 🔍 Exploitinginfo Class: Code injection CWE: CWE-94 / CWE-74 / CWE-707 CAPEC: 🔒 ATT&CK: 🔒 Physical: No Local: No Remote: Yes Availability: 🔒 Status: Not defined Price Prediction: 🔍 Current Price Estimation: 🔒 0-Day Unlock Unlock Unlock Unlock Today Unlock Unlock Unlock Unlock Threat Intelligenceinfo Interest: 🔍 Active Actors: 🔍 Active APT Groups: 🔍 Countermeasuresinfo Recommended: Upgrade Status: 🔍 0-Day Time: 🔒 Upgrade: Airflow 3.2.0 Timelineinfo 07/24/2025 CVE reserved 04/15/2026 +265 days Advisory disclosed 04/15/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created 04/15/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update Sourcesinfo Vendor: apache.org Advisory: lists.apache.org Researcher: Vincent55 Yang Status: Confirmed CVE: CVE-2025-54550 (🔒) GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-54550 GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-357647 Entryinfo Created: 04/15/2026 07:15 Changes: 04/15/2026 07:15 (57) Complete: 🔍 Cache ID: 99:687:101 Discussion No comments yet. Languages: en. Please log in to comment. ◂ PreviousOverviewNext ▸