# CVE-2026-27173: Apache Airflow CNCF Kubernetes provider: JWT Token Exposure in KubernetesExecutor Command-Line Arguments

> Attackers with read-only Kubernetes access can steal JWT tokens from command-line arguments to modify Airflow database state.

- **Severity:** High 8.7 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:L`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 19 May 2026
- **Updated:** 19 May 2026
- **Also known as:** CLEANSTART-2026-LB45113, ECHO-b981-d563-1df6, GHSA-524w-vq63-2xhf, MINI-jgwx-5hrw-77w3, MINI-w7f4-77xh-3cvf, PYSEC-2026-2365

## What is CVE-2026-27173?

CVE-2026-27173 is a high-severity vulnerability in Apache Airflow CNCF Kubernetes provider, published on 19 May 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

JWT tokens that were used by workers in Kubernetes Executors have been exposed to users who had read only access to Kuberentes Pods. This could allow users with just read-only access to perform actions that were only available to running tasks via Task SDK and potentially allow to modify state of Airflow Database for tasks.

Weakness: CWE-538 (Insertion of Sensitive Information into Externally-Accessible File or Directory)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-27173?

3 open source packages ship an affected version, including apache-airflow-providers-cncf-kubernetes. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `apache-airflow-providers-cncf-kubernetes` | PyPI | All versions | 10.17.0 |
| `apache-airflow-providers-cncf-kubernetes` | PyPI | All versions | 10.17.0 |
| `apache-airflow-providers-cncf-kubernetes` | PyPI | All versions | 10.17.0 |

Products: Apache Apache-Airflow-Providers-Cncf-Kubernetes.

## How do I fix CVE-2026-27173?

Upgrade apache-airflow-providers-cncf-kubernetes to 10.17.0 or later.

## Is CVE-2026-27173 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-27173 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Apache Airflow CNCF Kubernetes provider

- [CVE-2023-33234](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-33234/): Apache Airflow CNCF Kubernetes Provider: KubernetesPodOperator RCE via connection configuration (high 7.2)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-27173 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-27173 is a high-severity vulnerability in Apache Airflow CNCF Kubernetes provider, published on 19 May 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-27173 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- apache-airflow-providers-cncf-kubernetes (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 10.17.0
- apache-airflow-providers-cncf-kubernetes (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 10.17.0
- apache-airflow-providers-cncf-kubernetes (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 10.17.0

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-27173/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-27173/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-27173
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-27173
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-27173

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-27173/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.