Improper privilege management in Apache Airflow
Priority MEDIUM 54CWE-269Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Privilege escalation
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · None · None
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and GitHub. Impact type from CWE-269.
Summary
Incorrect Session Validation in Apache Airflow Webserver versions prior to 1.10.14 with default config allows a malicious airflow user on site A where they log in normally, to access unauthorized Airflow Webserver on Site B through the session from Site A. This does not affect users who have changed the default value for `[webserver] secret_key` config.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.23864 97th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed Apache Airflow (Apache Software Foundation): 1.10.14apache-airflow (PyPI): 1.10.14
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apache | Apache Airflow | Apache Airflow to before 1.10.14 | 1.10.14 | Patch available | CNA |
| — | apache-airflow (PyPI) | before 1.10.14 | 1.10.14 | Patch available | GHSA-7mx5-x372-xh87 |
- Apache Airflow VendorApache Affected Apache Airflow to before 1.10.14 Fixed in 1.10.14 Patch available CNA
- apache-airflow (PyPI) Vendor— Affected before 1.10.14 Fixed in 1.10.14 Patch available GHSA-7mx5-x372-xh87
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Apache Airflow (Apache Software Foundation) Fixed in 1.10.14
- Fix · GHSA-7mx5-x372-xh87 apache-airflow (PyPI) Fixed in 1.10.14 Advisory →
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2020-17526
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-7mx5-x372-xh87
References
Advisory 4
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rbeeb73a6c741f2f9200d83b9c2220610da314810c4e8c9cf881d47ef%40%3Cusers.airflow.apache.org%3E
- [oss-security] 20201221 CVE-2020-17526: Apache Airflow Incorrect Session Validation in Airflow Webserver with default config
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-17526
- https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-7mx5-x372-xh87
Other 11
- [announce] 20210623 Success at Apache: Security in Practice
- https://github.com/apache/airflow/commit/2f3b1c780472afd4c8a93633e6633feb7083792e
- https://github.com/apache/airflow/commit/6b065840323f9a4fc8e372b458d26e419e4fa99b
- https://github.com/apache/airflow/commit/97b2735d65e95c4633966667b6db3908540f3937
- https://github.com/apache/airflow/commit/9e01476a50b9be27c4b1e6c6e24d36f290629195
- https://github.com/apache/airflow/commit/a8900fa5f2b8963e9f57ba4ae5520a5d339aeaad
- https://github.com/apache/airflow/commit/dfa7b26ddaca80ee8fd9915ee9f6eac50fac77f6
- https://github.com/apache/airflow/commit/fe6d00a54f83468e296777d3b83b65a2ae7169ec
- https://github.com/apache/airflow
- https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/apache-airflow/PYSEC-2020-22.yaml
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r466759f377651f0a690475d5a52564d0e786e82c08d5a5730a4f8352@%3Cannounce.apache.org%3E
More Apache Airflow vulnerabilities
- TI-2020-10905 Missing authentication in Apache Airflow KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2020-09638 OS command injection in Apache Airflow KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2022-19017 Apache Airflow <2.4.0 has an RCE in a bash example CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2021-16140 Apache Airflow: Variable Import endpoint missed authentication check CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2022-08169 Apache Airflow: RCE in example DAGs CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2024-26776 Apache Airflow: DAG Author Code Execution possibility in airflow-scheduler CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
Sources
- CVE-2020-17526 · CVE Program
- CVE-2020-17526 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-7mx5-x372-xh87 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences