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Airflow CVE-2022-38649

CRITICAL
OS Command Injection (CWE-78)
2022-11-22 security@apache.org
9.8
CVSS 3.1 · NVD
View

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A05:2025 - Injection
ASVS 5.0
V1 - Encoding and Sanitization OS command sanitization, avoid shell exec
MITRE ATT&CK

2 techniques across 1 tactic: Execution

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.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

A remote attacker could execute arbitrary operating system commands on the host by sending crafted requests to the affected application. No authentication is required to exploit this vulnerability.

Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Why: CRITICAL severity.
Patch available 3.2% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAI

Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection') vulnerability in Apache Airflow Pinot Provider, Apache Airflow allows an attacker to control commands. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity.

RemediationAI

A vendor patch is available. Apply the latest security update as soon as possible. Avoid passing user input to shell commands. Use language-specific APIs instead of shell execution. Apply strict input validation with allowlists.

Affected Packages

pypi apache-airflow fix: 2.3.0

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 OS Command Injection (CWE-78), which allows attackers to execute arbitrary operating system commands on the host. Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection') vulnerability in Apache Airflow Pinot Provider, Apache Airflow allows an attacker to control commands executed in the task execution context, without write access to DAG files.0.0. It also impacts any Apache Airflow versions prior to 2.3.0 in case Apache Airflow Pinot Provider is installed (Apache Airflow Pinot Provider 4.0.0 can only be installed for Airflow 2.3.0+). Note that you need to manually install the Pinot Provider version 4.0.0 in order to get rid of the vulnerability on top of Airflow 2.3.0+ version. Affected products include: Apache Airflow, Apache Apache-Airflow-Providers-Apache-Pinot. Version information: prior to 4.0.0..

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

NVD PRIMARY 9.8 CRITICAL
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

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

DescriptionNVD

Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection') vulnerability in Apache Airflow Pinot Provider, Apache Airflow allows an attacker to control commands executed in the task execution context, without write access to DAG files. This issue affects Apache Airflow Pinot Provider versions prior to 4.0.0. It also impacts any Apache Airflow versions prior to 2.3.0 in case Apache Airflow Pinot Provider is installed (Apache Airflow Pinot Provider 4.0.0 can only be installed for Airflow 2.3.0+). Note that you need to manually install the Pinot Provider version 4.0.0 in order to get rid of the vulnerability on top of Airflow 2.3.0+ version.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
3.2%
Top 13% exploitable
Data Quality
3 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 CRITICAL
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 3.2%
Patch available Yes
Active threat No
Deciding rule
CRITICAL severity
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
Yes
Human Impact· derived
Medium

Priority Score

52
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: +3
CVSS: +49
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

OS command injection occurs when an application passes unsanitized user input directly into system shell commands.

Affected Products (CPE)NVD

cpe:2.3:a:apache:airflow:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:apache:apache-airflow-providers-apache-pinot:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
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
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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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