Apache Airflow FTP provider: FTP Provider does not protect FTPS data channel (missing PROT_P)
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Information disclosure
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · None · None
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CISA ADP. Fix status from CNA and GitHub. Impact type from CWE-319.
Summary
The Apache Airflow FTP provider's `FTPSHook.get_conn()` created an `ftplib.FTP_TLS` connection but never called `prot_p()`, so although the control channel was TLS-protected the data channel was transmitted in cleartext. Any deployment using `FTPSHook` or `FTPSFileTransmitOperator` to move files over FTPS exposed file contents and credentials-in-transit to a network attacker able to observe the data connection. Upgrade apache-airflow-providers-ftp to `3.15.1` or later, which issues `PROT P` to encrypt the data channel.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- Yes
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apache | Apache Airflow FTP provider | before 3.15.1 | 3.15.1 | Patch available | CNA |
| — | apache-airflow-providers-ftp (PyPI) | before 3.15.1 | 3.15.1 | Patch available | GHSA-fgch-86x8-fv43 |
- Apache Airflow FTP provider VendorApache Affected before 3.15.1 Fixed in 3.15.1 Patch available CNA
- apache-airflow-providers-ftp (PyPI) Vendor— Affected before 3.15.1 Fixed in 3.15.1 Patch available GHSA-fgch-86x8-fv43
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Apache Airflow FTP provider (Apache Software Foundation) Fixed in 3.15.1
- Fix · GHSA-fgch-86x8-fv43 apache-airflow-providers-ftp (PyPI) Fixed in 3.15.1 Advisory →
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-49486
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-fgch-86x8-fv43
References
Advisory 2
Other 5
- https://github.com/apache/airflow/commit/a929d142d667f71dea29c565a7167216a9c30378
- https://github.com/apache/airflow
- https://github.com/apache/airflow/releases/tag/providers-ftp/3.15.1
- https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/apache-airflow-providers-ftp/PYSEC-2026-238.yaml
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/06/26/1
More Apache-airflow-providers-ftp vulnerabilities
- TI-2024-19509 Apache Airflow FTP Provider: FTP_TLS instance with unverified SSL context CVSS 3.1LOW 2.7
Sources
- CVE-2026-49486 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-49486 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-fgch-86x8-fv43 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
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