CVE-2021-38540

Apache Airflow: Variable Import endpoint missed authentication check

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Published Sep 9, 2021 CVSS 3.1 · 9.8 Critical EPSS 80.9% KEV · Not listed

Description

The variable import endpoint was not protected by authentication in Airflow >=2.0.0, <2.1.3. This allowed unauthenticated users to hit that endpoint to add/modify Airflow variables used in DAGs, potentially resulting in a denial of service, information disclosure or remote code execution. This issue affects Apache Airflow >=2.0.0, <2.1.3.

Affected Products

Default status is the baseline for the product, each version can override it (e.g. patched versions marked unaffected).

Vendor Product Default status Versions

Apache Software Foundation

Apache Airflow

affected

Version	Status	Constraints
`Apache Airflow`	affected	< 2.1.3

Configuration 1 [-]

cpe:2.3:a:apache:airflow:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

No data.

No data available yet.

Remediation

Vendor Workaround

Upgrade to Apache Airflow >=2.1.3

Tracking

Sign in to view the affected projects.

Advisories

Source	ID	Title
Github GHSA	GHSA-h88f-r7cw-8fv3	Missing Authentication for Critical Function in Apache Airflow

Metrics

No CVSS v4.0

Attack Vector Network

Attack Complexity Low

Privileges Required None

Scope Unchanged

Confidentiality Impact High

Integrity Impact High

Availability Impact High

User Interaction None

No CVSS v3.0

Access Vector Network

Access Complexity Low

Authentication None

Confidentiality Impact Partial

Integrity Impact Partial

Availability Impact Partial

This CVE is not in the KEV list.

Exploit prediction score: 80.9% (80.938% probability within 30 days)

Key SSVC decision points have not yet been added.

References

Link	Providers
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rac2ed9118f64733e47b4f1e82ddc8c8020774698f13328ca742b03a2%40%3Cannounce.apache.org%3E
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rb34c3dd1a815456355217eef34060789f771b6f77c3a3dec77de2064%40%3Cusers.airflow.apache.org%3E

History

No history.

Subscriptions

Apache Airflow

Weaknesses

Sources

CVE record Updated: Aug 4, 2024, 1:44 AM

Status: PUBLISHED
Assigner: apache
Published: Sep 9, 2021, 3:05 PM
Updated: Aug 4, 2024, 1:44 AM
Reserved: Aug 11, 2021, 12:00 AM

View source JSON

Vulnrichment No data

No data.

NVD Updated: Jun 17, 2026, 4:02 AM

Status: Modified
Published: Sep 9, 2021, 3:15 PM
Modified: Jun 17, 2026, 4:02 AM

View source JSON

Red Hat No data

No data.

OpenCVE enrichment No data

No data.

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