# CVE-2026-50203: Apache Airflow SFTP provider: Path traversal in SFTPHook.retrieve_directory

> A malicious SFTP server can write files outside the destination directory via crafted entry names, requiring an upgrade of the SFTP provider.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 17 Jun 2026
- **Updated:** 17 Jun 2026
- **Also known as:** CLEANSTART-2026-EE96892, ECHO-82d3-866e-e0f0, GHSA-qf38-jq28-3ccq, MINI-hx8c-679x-vwx6, MINI-x6h4-5935-938w, PYSEC-2026-218

## What is CVE-2026-50203?

CVE-2026-50203 is a critical path traversal vulnerability in Apache Airflow SFTP provider, published on 17 Jun 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

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.

Weakness: CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-50203?

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


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `apache-airflow-providers-sftp` | PyPI | All versions | 5.8.1 |
| `apache-airflow-providers-sftp` | PyPI | All versions | 5.8.1 |
| `apache-airflow-providers-sftp` | PyPI | All versions | 5.8.1 |

Products: Apache Apache-Airflow-Providers-Sftp.

## How do I fix CVE-2026-50203?

Upgrade apache-airflow-providers-sftp to 5.8.1 or later.

## Is CVE-2026-50203 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-50203 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-50203 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-50203 is a critical path traversal vulnerability in Apache Airflow SFTP provider, published on 17 Jun 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-50203 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- apache-airflow-providers-sftp (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 5.8.1
- apache-airflow-providers-sftp (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 5.8.1
- apache-airflow-providers-sftp (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 5.8.1

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-2026-50203/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-50203/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-50203
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-50203
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-50203

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-50203/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.