Apache Airflow Scheduler RCE via Arbitrary Class Import (pre-3.2.2)
CVE-2026-45360 Published on June 1, 2026

Apache Airflow: Arbitrary import in custom deadline-reference deserialization
Apache Airflow's scheduler-side deadline-reference decoder (`SerializedCustomReference.deserialize_reference`) imported and dispatched arbitrary class paths drawn from DAG-author-controlled serialized state without an allowlist or plugin-registry gate. A DAG author whose code reaches the scheduler the default on single-host deployments where the DAG bundle is importable from the scheduler process could embed a custom `DeadlineReference` whose serialized form named an attacker-controlled module path, causing the scheduler to `import_string(...)` and instantiate that class with a live SQLAlchemy session attached. Affects deployments where DAG-author code is less trusted than the scheduler process. Users are advised to upgrade to `apache-airflow` 3.2.2 or later.

Vendor Advisory NVD

Vulnerability Analysis

CVE-2026-45360 is exploitable with network access, and does not require authorization privileges or user interaction. This vulnerability is considered to have a low attack complexity. The potential impact of an exploit of this vulnerability is considered to be low. considered to have a small impact on confidentiality and integrity and availability.

Attack Vector:
NETWORK
Attack Complexity:
LOW
Privileges Required:
NONE
User Interaction:
NONE
Scope:
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality Impact:
LOW
Integrity Impact:
LOW
Availability Impact:
LOW

Weakness Type

What is a Marshaling, Unmarshaling Vulnerability?

The application deserializes untrusted data without sufficiently verifying that the resulting data will be valid.

CVE-2026-45360 has been classified to as a Marshaling, Unmarshaling vulnerability or weakness.


Products Associated with CVE-2026-45360

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Apache AirFlow
 

Affected Versions

Apache Software Foundation Apache Airflow:

Exploit Probability

EPSS
0.57%
Percentile
42.75%

EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System) scores estimate the probability that a vulnerability will be exploited in the wild within the next 30 days. The percentile shows you how this score compares to all other vulnerabilities.