CVE-2025-62503 is a vulnerability identified in Apache Airflow version 3.0.0, classified under CWE-250 (Execution with Unnecessary Privileges). The issue arises because users who have been granted CREATE privileges on certain Airflow resources—specifically Pools, Connections, and Variables—but lack UPDATE privileges, can still modify existing records by exploiting the bulk create API with an overwrite action. This API behavior allows a user to bypass intended privilege restrictions, effectively escalating their permissions to update resources they should not be authorized to change. The vulnerability is exploitable remotely (network vector) and requires low attack complexity, but the attacker must have some level of privileges (PR:L) and user interaction (UI:R) is required. The impact primarily affects confidentiality and integrity, as unauthorized updates to Pools, Connections, or Variables could lead to exposure or alteration of sensitive configuration data, potentially affecting workflow execution and data processing integrity. Availability is not impacted. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability was published on October 30, 2025, with a CVSS v3.1 base score of 4.6, indicating medium severity. The flaw highlights a design or implementation oversight in Airflow's permission enforcement on its bulk create API, which should be addressed by the vendor to prevent privilege escalation scenarios.

For European organizations, especially those relying on Apache Airflow 3.0.0 for orchestrating complex data workflows and pipelines, this vulnerability poses a risk of unauthorized modification of critical configuration elements such as Pools, Connections, and Variables. Such unauthorized changes can lead to data leakage, misrouting of data flows, or injection of malicious configurations, undermining data confidentiality and integrity. This is particularly concerning for industries with strict data protection regulations like finance, healthcare, and telecommunications prevalent across Europe. While availability is not directly impacted, the integrity breach could cause workflow failures or incorrect data processing, indirectly affecting business operations. The requirement for some user privileges and user interaction limits the attack surface but does not eliminate risk, especially in environments with multiple users or automated processes. Organizations with multi-tenant or shared Airflow deployments may face increased risk if privilege boundaries are not strictly enforced. The absence of known exploits suggests a window for proactive mitigation before active exploitation occurs.

European organizations should immediately review and tighten privilege assignments within Apache Airflow, ensuring that users granted CREATE privileges on Pools, Connections, and Variables do not have unnecessary access that could be exploited via the bulk create API. Implement strict role-based access control (RBAC) policies that separate creation and update permissions clearly. Monitor and audit bulk API usage logs to detect unusual overwrite actions or privilege escalations. Limit network access to Airflow's API endpoints to trusted users and systems only, employing network segmentation and firewall rules. Where possible, disable or restrict the bulk create API functionality until a vendor patch is released. Stay informed on vendor advisories and apply official patches promptly once available. Additionally, conduct regular security assessments and penetration tests focusing on privilege escalation vectors within Airflow deployments. Employ anomaly detection systems to flag unexpected configuration changes. Finally, educate users about the risks of privilege misuse and enforce strong authentication and authorization controls to reduce the likelihood of exploitation.