Apache Airflow: SFTP Provider Path Traversal vulnerability (before 5.8.1)
CVE-2026-50203 Published on June 17, 2026
Apache Airflow SFTP provider: Path traversal in SFTPHook.retrieve_directory allows local file write outside the destination directory via malicious server-supplied directory-entry names
A path traversal in the SFTP provider (`SFTPHook.retrieve_directory` / `SFTPOperator(operation=get)`) let a malicious or compromised remote SFTP server write files outside the configured local destination directory via crafted directory-entry names. No Airflow account is required the attack surface is any deployment downloading directories from an untrusted SFTP server. Upgrade `apache-airflow-providers-sftp` to 5.8.1 or later.
Vulnerability Analysis
CVE-2026-50203 can be exploited 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 have a high impact on confidentiality and integrity, and no impact on availability.
Weakness Type
What is a Directory traversal Vulnerability?
The software uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the software does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory.
CVE-2026-50203 has been classified to as a Directory traversal vulnerability or weakness.
Products Associated with CVE-2026-50203
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Affected Versions
Apache Software Foundation Apache Airflow SFTP provider:- Before 5.8.1 is affected.