Authenticated Execution API takeover via exposed JWT arguments
Published Jun 1, 2026 · Updated Jun 1, 2026
JWT exposure in Apache Airflow before 3.2.2 allows remote authenticated users to assume worker-task privileges through Kubernetes pod data. KubernetesExecutor inserts an Execution API JWT into each worker container's command-line arguments, making it readable from the pod specification. Exploitation requires UI or API authentication, Kubernetes pods/get access in the Airflow namespace, and a KubernetesExecutor deployment; the stolen token permits state-changing Execution API calls and access to Variables, Connections, and XComs.
Summary
What happened
JWT exposure in Apache Airflow before 3.2.2 allows remote authenticated users to assume worker-task privileges through Kubernetes pod data. KubernetesExecutor inserts an Execution API JWT into each worker container's command-line arguments, making it readable from the pod specification. Exploitation requires UI or API authentication, Kubernetes pods/get access in the Airflow namespace, and a KubernetesExecutor deployment; the stolen token permits state-changing Execution API calls and access to Variables, Connections, and XComs.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-49298
- Published
- Jun 1, 2026
- Updated
- Jun 1, 2026
- Vendor
- The Apache Software Foundation
- Product
- Apache Airflow
- Classifications
- CWE-538, T1552
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jun 1, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Jun 1, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
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- Affected versionversion=0 <3.2.2
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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