CVE-2025-62402: Apache Airflow RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2025-62402 Overview

CVE-2025-62402 affects Apache Airflow deployments where the API server shares an environment with DAG files. Authenticated API users can invoke the /api/v2/dagReports endpoint to trigger DAG code execution within the api-server process context. The flaw stems from the api-server loading and executing DAG code that should only run inside dedicated worker or DAG processor environments. This weakness maps to [CWE-250: Execution with Unnecessary Privileges].

Critical Impact
Authenticated API users can execute arbitrary DAG code inside the Apache Airflow api-server process, breaking workload isolation between the API layer and DAG execution.

Affected Products

Apache Airflow deployments where the api-server has access to DAG files
Apache Airflow installations exposing the /api/v2/dagReports endpoint
Environments relying on api-server and worker process separation for security

Discovery Timeline

2025-10-30 - CVE CVE-2025-62402 published to NVD
2026-10-08 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-62402

Vulnerability Analysis

Apache Airflow splits responsibilities across several components, including the api-server, scheduler, DAG processor, and workers. DAG files contain Python code that defines pipelines, and that code is intended to execute only in trusted processing components. The api-server exposes HTTP endpoints for operators and automation to query metadata and manage workflows.

The /api/v2/dagReports endpoint generates reports about DAG files. When the api-server runs in an environment where DAG source files are accessible, this endpoint loads and parses those files. Parsing a DAG in Airflow involves executing the module-level Python code within the file. Any authenticated API caller with access to this endpoint can therefore trigger execution of DAG code in the api-server context.

Root Cause

The root cause is a privilege boundary violation. The api-server should not import or evaluate DAG modules, because its process is not the designated execution environment for pipeline logic. Granting the api-server the ability to parse DAGs on demand combines two trust zones that Airflow's architecture is designed to separate, aligning with [CWE-250].

Attack Vector

An attacker needs network access to the Airflow REST API and valid credentials with permission to call /api/v2/dagReports. The attacker issues a request to the endpoint, which causes the api-server to parse DAG files available on its filesystem. Any Python code at module scope in those DAG files runs under the api-server's user, environment variables, and credentials, including any mounted service account tokens or database connections.

No verified public proof-of-concept code is available. See the Apache Mailing List Discussion and the OpenWall OSS Security Update for upstream details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-62402

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected HTTP requests to /api/v2/dagReports from accounts that do not normally operate on DAG metadata
Child processes or Python imports originating from the api-server process that reference DAG module paths
Outbound network connections from the api-server host to destinations referenced only in DAG code

Detection Strategies

Enable Airflow audit logging for API endpoints and alert on calls to /api/v2/dagReports
Baseline normal api-server behavior and flag process execution, file reads, or network calls that deviate from the baseline
Correlate API access logs with authenticated user roles to identify low-privilege accounts invoking DAG report endpoints

Monitoring Recommendations

Forward Airflow api-server logs and host telemetry to a centralized analytics platform for correlation
Monitor for new Python subprocess activity or filesystem access patterns on the api-server host
Track role and permission changes in Airflow RBAC that grant access to DAG report APIs

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-62402

Immediate Actions Required

Restrict access to the /api/v2/dagReports endpoint through Airflow role-based access control and reverse-proxy rules
Isolate the api-server from DAG file storage so the process cannot read DAG source files
Audit existing API user accounts and remove permissions that are not strictly required

Patch Information

Refer to the Apache Mailing List Discussion and the OpenWall OSS Security Update for the fixed Apache Airflow versions and upgrade guidance. Upgrade production deployments to a release that includes the fix for CVE-2025-62402.

Workarounds

Deploy the api-server in a dedicated environment without any DAG files mounted or synced
Block or rate-limit /api/v2/dagReports at an API gateway until patching is complete
Enforce least-privilege Airflow roles and require strong authentication for all API consumers

bash

# Example reverse-proxy rule to block the vulnerable endpoint
# (nginx) — remove once upgraded to a fixed Airflow release
location /api/v2/dagReports {
    return 403;
}