CVE-2026-42358: Apache Airflow: Variable masker depth-limit bypass returns cleartext nested secrets
A bug in Apache Airflow's Variable response masker caused nested-key redaction (triggered by secret-suffixed key names like password, token, secret, apikey) to be bypassed when the JSON value's nesting depth exceeded the shared secrets masker's recursion limit: the masker returned the original nested item before checking the sensitive key name. An authenticated UI/API user with Variable read permission could harvest plaintext secret values stored under sensitive keys nested deep enough to exceed the masker's depth cap. Affects deployments that store sensitive values inside deeply-nested JSON Variables. This is a residual gap in the fix for CVE-2026-32690 (which covered shallower nesting via maxdepth=1); the depth-limit boundary itself was not raised, so the same key-name bypass pattern reappears beyond the recursion cap. Users who already upgraded for CVE-2026-32690 should additionally upgrade to apache-airflow 3.2.2 or later to cover the deep-nesting path.
Affected Software
Remediation
Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.
- Upgrade
Upgrade
Apache Airflow (Variable response masker)to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 3.2.2Patch CVE-2026-42358
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the severity of CVE-2026-42358?
CVE-2026-42358 has a medium severity rating of 6.5 according to the CVSS 3.1 metrics.
How do I fix CVE-2026-42358?
To remediate CVE-2026-42358, apply the available patch for Apache Airflow.
What vulnerability does CVE-2026-42358 expose?
CVE-2026-42358 exposes sensitive data by allowing nested secrets to be displayed in cleartext.
Which software is affected by CVE-2026-42358?
CVE-2026-42358 affects Apache Airflow.
What is the risk associated with CVE-2026-42358?
The risk associated with CVE-2026-42358 is categorized as moderate, with a risk score of 40.