Security Digest · Vulnerability record
CVE-2026-50203: Apache Airflow SFTP provider: Path traversal in SFTPHook.retrieve_directory
A path traversal in the SFTP provider (SFTPHook.retrievedirectory / SFTPOperator(operation=get)) let a malicious or compromised remote SFTP server write files outside the configured local destination directory via crafted directory-entry names.
CVSS 9.1 Critical EPSS 0.9% · p59
Should you act?
Critical and remotely reachable
No known exploitation yet, but it is network-reachable without credentials. This signal is computed from CISA KEV, EPSS and CVSS data; it is not an editorial verdict.
- No confirmed exploitation. It is not in CISA’s KEV catalog and CISA’s SSVC assessment records no known exploitation. That can change quickly after a public write-up; re-check if you are affected.
- EPSS 0.9%, percentile 59: FIRST’s model estimates a 0.9% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 59% of all scored CVEs (moderate). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
- Remotely reachable with no login and no user interaction. If the vulnerable service is exposed to the internet, prioritize it.
- Only applies if your dependency tree includes
apache-airflow-providers-sftp(PyPI) < 5.8.1, fixed in 5.8.1. Check your lockfile, including transitive dependencies.
What it is
A path traversal in the SFTP provider (SFTPHook.retrievedirectory / 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.
From the GitHub advisory
A path traversal in the SFTP provider (SFTPHook.retrievedirectory / 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 type: CWE-22.
Product: apache-airflow-providers-sftp (PyPI) · Assigned by: apache · Published: 2026-06-17
Affected and fixed versions
| Ecosystem | Package | Vulnerable | First fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| PyPI | apache-airflow-providers-sftp | < 5.8.1 | 5.8.1 |
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions (per CVE record) |
|---|---|---|
| Apache Software Foundation | Apache Airflow SFTP provider | < 5.8.1 |
Severity scores
| Scored by | CVSS | Score | Vector |
|---|---|---|---|
| CISA-ADP | 3.1 | 9.1 Critical | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N |
| GitHub | 3.1 | 9.1 | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N |
- Attack vector: network (remotely reachable)
- Attack complexity: low
- Privileges required: none (no login)
- User interaction: none
- Scope: unchanged
CVSS measures how bad a flaw is if exploited, not how likely exploitation is. Read it next to the exploitation data below.
Exploitation and urgency
- CISA KEV: not listed (no confirmed in-the-wild exploitation known to CISA).
- CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation none, automatable yes, technical impact total.
- FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 0.88% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 59.
Timeline
- — CVE record last updated
- — CVE record published by apache
- — GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-qf38-jq28-3ccq published (critical)
Sources and references
Original sources first. Version and fix details should always be confirmed against the vendor or project advisory.
Vendor and project advisories, patches
- github.com github.com
- lists.apache.org lists.apache.org
Vulnerability records
- GitHub Advisory GHSA-qf38-jq28-3ccq github.com
- CVE.org record CVE-2026-50203 cve.org
- NVD entry CVE-2026-50203 nvd.nist.gov
Other references from the CVE record and advisory
- openwall.com openwall.com
- github.com github.com