CVE-2026-82311 Apache Software Foundation CVE debrief

Who should care

Defenders and administrators of Apache Airflow deployments using the FAB auth manager with session_backend=database should assess exposure and verify session management mechanisms.

Why it matters

CVE-2026-82311 allows an attacker with a compromised session cookie to maintain access after a password change in Apache Airflow FAB provider deployments using session_backend=database. Defenders should assess exposure, verify session management, and upgrade to version 3.9.0 or later.

• An attacker with a compromised session cookie can maintain unauthorized access after a password change
• Defenders must verify session management mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access
• Upgrade to version 3.9.0 or later to fix the vulnerability
• Incident response plans should be updated to address session cookie compromise

Technical summary

The Apache Airflow FAB provider's password reset functionality does not delete existing database-backed sessions due to inconsistent identifier comparison, allowing an attacker with a victim's session cookie to maintain access after a password change. This affects deployments using the FAB auth manager with session_backend=database. The issue is fixed in version 3.9.0, which compares identifiers consistently, addressing both CVE-2026-82311 and CVE-2026-86462. Users should upgrade to prevent unauthorized access and verify session management mechanisms.

Defensive priority

Upgrade to version 3.9.0 or later, assess exposure, verify session management

Recommended defensive actions

• Upgrade to apache-airflow-providers-fab version 3.9.0 or later
• Assess exposure in deployments using FAB auth manager with session_backend=database
• Verify session management and user authentication mechanisms
• Review and update incident response plans for session cookie compromise
• Confirm whether affected product deployments exist in managed environments and assign an owner for follow-up
• Review compensating controls for exposed systems while remediation is scheduled and verified
• Track exceptions, retest remediated assets, and close the item only after evidence is documented

Evidence notes

The official CVE Program record, NVD vulnerability detail, and source references from the Apache security team provide information on the vulnerability and patch. The CVE record was published on 2026-09-16T09:17:06.430Z. The NVD entry is currently Analyzed. The Apache security team confirmed the vulnerability and provided patch details. The issue affects apache-airflow-providers-fab version prior to 3.9.0.

Sources and references

Methodology and review provenance

AI-assisted synthesis based on stored public vulnerability evidence. System validation, approval state, and publication status do not by themselves establish human review of this revision. PatchSiren helps prioritize defensive review and does not prove exposure or remediation on any system.