Airflow
CVE-2020-13927
CRITICAL
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A07:2025 - Authentication Failures
ASVS 5.0
V6 - Authentication Authentication required for critical functions
MITRE ATT&CK
1 technique across 1 tactic: Initial Access The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up. |
| Impact | CVSS score of 9.8 (CRITICAL). Attack characteristics: network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction not required. Public proof-of-concept exploit code is available. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | A remote attacker could access critical functionality without authentication by sending crafted requests to the affected application. No authentication is required to exploit this vulnerability. |
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Alert meAnalysisAI
The previous default setting for Airflow's Experimental API was to allow all API requests without authentication, but this poses security risks to users who miss this fact. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
RemediationAI
No vendor patch is available at time of analysis. Monitor vendor advisories for updates. Require authentication for all sensitive operations, implement defense in depth.
Affected Packages
Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)
Affects your stack
Affects 1 package in pypi
Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.
Technical ContextAI · show details
This vulnerability is classified as Missing Authentication for Critical Function (CWE-306), which allows attackers to access critical functionality without authentication. The previous default setting for Airflow's Experimental API was to allow all API requests without authentication, but this poses security risks to users who miss this fact. From Airflow 1.10.11 the default has been changed to deny all requests by default and is documented at https://airflow.apache.org/docs/1.10.11/security.html#api-authentication. Note this change fixes it for new installs but existing users need to change their config to default [api]auth_backend = airflow.api.auth.backend.deny_all as mentioned in the Updating Guide: https://github.com/apache/airflow/blob/1.10.11/UPDATING.md#experimental-api-will-deny-all-request-by-default Affected products include: Apache Airflow.
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- Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources
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Severity by source
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.
CVSS VectorNVD
Lifecycle Timeline
2DescriptionNVD
The previous default setting for Airflow's Experimental API was to allow all API requests without authentication, but this poses security risks to users who miss this fact. From Airflow 1.10.11 the default has been changed to deny all requests by default and is documented at https://airflow.apache.org/docs/1.10.11/security.html#api-authentication. Note this change fixes it for new installs but existing users need to change their config to default [api]auth_backend = airflow.api.auth.backend.deny_all as mentioned in the Updating Guide: https://github.com/apache/airflow/blob/1.10.11/UPDATING.md#experimental-api-will-deny-all-request-by-default
Threat Intelligence Overview
NVD
CVE.org
CISA KEV
EPSS
Exploit-DB
How this decision was reached
The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.
What every action level means
SSVC AssessmentENISA
Priority Score
Attack Technique
Authentication bypass attacks exploit flaws in the verification mechanisms that control access to systems and applications.
Affected Products (CPE)NVD
An issue was found in Apache Airflow versions 1.10.10 and below. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is r
The variable import endpoint was not protected by authentication in Airflow >=2.0.0, <2.1.3. Rated critical severity (CV
An issue was found in Apache Airflow versions 1.10.10 and below. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability
A vulnerability in Example Dags of Apache Airflow allows an attacker with UI access who can trigger DAGs, to execute arb
In Apache Airflow, prior to version 2.2.4, some example DAGs did not properly sanitize user-provided params, making them
Incorrect Session Validation in Apache Airflow Webserver versions prior to 1.10.14 with default config allows a maliciou
Insufficient session expiration in apache-airflow-providers-fab 2.4.2 through 3.9.0 means an attacker who already holds
Authentication bypass in the Apache Airflow Keycloak auth manager provider (apache-airflow-providers-keycloak below 0.10
Privilege Context Switching Error vulnerability in Apache Software Foundation Apache Airflow.6.0. Rated critical severit
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection') vulnerability in Apache Software Fou
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection') vulnerability in Apache Airfl
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection') vulnerability in Apache Airfl
GitHub PoC