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Airflow CVE-2021-26559

MEDIUM
Improper Access Control (CWE-284)
2021-02-17 security@apache.org
6.5
CVSS 3.1 · NVD
View

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A01:2025 - Broken Access Control
ASVS 5.0
V8 - Authorization Access control enforcement
MITRE ATT&CK

1 technique across 1 tactic: Defense Evasion

The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up.

Impact

CVSS score of 6.5 (MEDIUM). Attack characteristics: network attack vector, low complexity, low privileges required, no user interaction not required.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

This vulnerability can be exploited remotely over the network. Successful exploitation could compromise the medium-severity affected system.

This Month Plan within 30 days. Why: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9).
Patch available 2.8% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAI

Improper Access Control on Configurations Endpoint for the Stable API of Apache Airflow allows users with Viewer or User role to get Airflow Configurations including sensitive information even when. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.

RemediationAI

No vendor patch is available at time of analysis. Monitor vendor advisories for updates. Apply vendor patches when available. Implement network segmentation and monitoring as interim mitigations.

Affected Packages

pypi apache-airflow fix: 2.0.1rc1, 2.0.1

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 under CWE-284. Improper Access Control on Configurations Endpoint for the Stable API of Apache Airflow allows users with Viewer or User role to get Airflow Configurations including sensitive information even when [webserver] expose_config is set to False in airflow.cfg. This allowed a privilege escalation attack.0.0. 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

NVD PRIMARY 6.5 MEDIUM
AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorNVD

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
None
Availability
None

DescriptionNVD

Improper Access Control on Configurations Endpoint for the Stable API of Apache Airflow allows users with Viewer or User role to get Airflow Configurations including sensitive information even when [webserver] expose_config is set to False in airflow.cfg. This allowed a privilege escalation attack. This issue affects Apache Airflow 2.0.0.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
2.8%
Top 15% exploitable
Data Quality
2 sources
Confidence: Low

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.

SignalValue
Severity MEDIUM
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 2.8%
Patch available Yes
Active threat No
Deciding rule
MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9)
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived
Scheduled
Exploitation· derived
None
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable· derived
No
Human Impact· derived
Medium

Priority Score

35
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: +3
CVSS: +32
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Authentication bypass attacks exploit flaws in the verification mechanisms that control access to systems and applications.

Privilege escalation occurs when an attacker leverages flaws in access control mechanisms to gain permissions beyond what they were originally granted.

Affected Products (CPE)NVD

cpe:2.3:a:apache:airflow:2.0.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
CVE-2020-13927 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Nov 10

The previous default setting for Airflow's Experimental API was to allow all API requests without authentication, but th

CVE-2020-11978 HIGH POC
8.8 Jul 17

An issue was found in Apache Airflow versions 1.10.10 and below. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is r

CVE-2021-38540 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Sep 09

The variable import endpoint was not protected by authentication in Airflow >=2.0.0, <2.1.3. Rated critical severity (CV

CVE-2020-11981 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Jul 17

An issue was found in Apache Airflow versions 1.10.10 and below. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability

CVE-2022-40127 HIGH POC
8.8 Nov 14

A vulnerability in Example Dags of Apache Airflow allows an attacker with UI access who can trigger DAGs, to execute arb

CVE-2022-24288 HIGH POC
8.8 Feb 25

In Apache Airflow, prior to version 2.2.4, some example DAGs did not properly sanitize user-provided params, making them

CVE-2020-17526 HIGH POC
7.7 Dec 21

Incorrect Session Validation in Apache Airflow Webserver versions prior to 1.10.14 with default config allows a maliciou

CVE-2026-82311 CRITICAL
9.8 Sep 15

Insufficient session expiration in apache-airflow-providers-fab 2.4.2 through 3.9.0 means an attacker who already holds

CVE-2026-76187 CRITICAL
9.8 Sep 15

Authentication bypass in the Apache Airflow Keycloak auth manager provider (apache-airflow-providers-keycloak below 0.10

CVE-2023-25754 CRITICAL
9.8 May 08

Privilege Context Switching Error vulnerability in Apache Software Foundation Apache Airflow.6.0. Rated critical severit

CVE-2023-22884 CRITICAL
9.8 Jan 21

Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection') vulnerability in Apache Software Fou

CVE-2022-40189 CRITICAL
9.8 Nov 22

Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection') vulnerability in Apache Airfl

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