Cyber Resilience

CVE-2026-27173

HighUpdated

Published: 19 May 2026

Published
19 May 2026
Modified
30 June 2026
KEV Added
Patch
CVSS Score v3.1 8.7 CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:L
EPSS Score 0.0016 5.2th percentile
Risk Priority 55 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2026-27173 is a high-severity Insertion of Sensitive Information into Externally-Accessible File or Directory (CWE-538) vulnerability in Apache Airflow Cncf Kubernetes. Its CVSS base score is 8.7 (High).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Steal Application Access Token (T1528); ranked at the 5.2th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

EU & UK References

Vulnerability details

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…

more

tasks via Task SDK and potentially allow to modify state of Airflow Database for tasks.

CWE(s)

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI

T1528 Steal Application Access Token Credential Access
Adversaries can steal application access tokens as a means of acquiring credentials to access remote systems and resources.
T1550.001 Application Access Token Lateral Movement
Adversaries may use stolen application access tokens to bypass the typical authentication process and access restricted accounts, information, or services on remote systems.
Why these techniques?

JWT token exposure directly enables token theft (T1528) and subsequent use as alternate auth material (T1550.001) for unauthorized task actions.

Confidence: MEDIUM · MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise v19.0

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2026-49298Shared CWE-538
CVE-2023-54346Shared CWE-538
CVE-2016-20024Shared CWE-538
CVE-2026-23838Shared CWE-538
CVE-2020-37104Shared CWE-538
CVE-2019-25706Shared CWE-538
CVE-2026-21672Shared CWE-538
CVE-2025-12059Shared CWE-538
CVE-2025-11079Shared CWE-538

Affected Assets

apache
airflow cncf kubernetes
≤ 10.17.0

Mitigating Controls

Likely Mitigating Controls AI

Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.

addresses: CWE-538

Pre- and post-publication reviews prevent insertion of sensitive information into externally-accessible public locations.

addresses: CWE-538

Monitors for sensitive information placed in externally accessible files or directories.

addresses: CWE-538

The map shows if data actions result in sensitive information being placed in externally accessible locations.

addresses: CWE-538

Isolation and eradication reduce the ability to exploit sensitive information inserted into externally-accessible files or directories.

addresses: CWE-538

Approved categorization forces identification of externally accessible files that contain sensitive content so they receive proper protection.

addresses: CWE-538

The pre-implementation review identifies externally accessible files or directories containing PII and drives access restrictions or removal.

addresses: CWE-538

Tainting makes it possible to determine when sensitive data has been removed from externally accessible files or directories.

addresses: CWE-538

OPSEC practices stop placement of supply-chain information into locations accessible to external parties.

References