CVE-2026-86792
HIGH 8.8 ALL-YEARSApache Airflow Apache Kafka provider versions 1.15.0 before 2.0.0 resolve dotted-path strings found in a Kafka connection's `extra` field into Python callables via `import_string`, with no allowlist, and hand them to the confluent-kafka client which invokes them. Deployments that have enabled the Kafka event producer — `dag_run_events_enabled` or `task_instance_events_enabled`, both disabled by default — build that client inside the scheduler process, so a user whose only privilege is editing Airflow connections gains arbitrary code execution in the control plane; the Airflow security model limits connection-configuration users to code execution on workers, not the scheduler. Deployments using Google Managed Kafka are not affected, because that code path overwrites any user-supplied `oauth_cb`; plain brokers and Amazon MSK are exposed. Users are recommended to upgrade to apache-airflow-providers-apache-kafka 2.0.0 or later, which adds an allowlist configuration option for connection-string callbacks.
Severe if exploited (CVSS 8.8), but no confirmed exploitation. Patch on a normal cadence.
Exploitation likelihood
1.2%chance of exploitation in 30 days · 67th percentile
Impact if exploited
8.8CVSS 3.1 · HIGH · ADP
- ConfidentialityHigh
- IntegrityHigh
- AvailabilityHigh
What an attacker needs
- ✓Access: Reachable over the network — no local access needed
- ⚠Privileges: Requires a low-privilege account
- ✓User interaction: No user interaction needed
- ✓Complexity: No special conditions — reliably repeatable
✓ lowers the bar for an attacker · ⚠ raises it
Proof of concept & exploit code
No public exploit or proof-of-concept code is catalogued for this CVE (no ExploitDB, Nuclei, or CISA-KEV entry). It may still exist — search GitHub or check the references below.
Affected
Vendors Apache Software Foundation Apache
Products Apache Airflow Apache Kafka Provider Apache Airflow Providers Apache Kafka
Weakness (CWE)
- CWE-470: : Use of Externally-Controlled Input to Select Classes or Code ('Unsafe Reflection')
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Known Affected Software Configurations
| Vendor | Product | Version range |
|---|---|---|
| Apache | Apache Airflow Providers Apache Kafka | ≥ 1.15.0 and < 2.0.0 |
All CVSS metrics
- HIGH 8.8 v3.1 · ADP Primary
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - HIGH 8.8 v3.1 · NVD Secondary
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H