CVE-2021-38540: apache software foundation apache airflow Improper Privilege Management
Vulnerability summary
CVE-2021-38540 is a critical (CVSS 9.8) Improper Privilege Management vulnerability in apache software foundation apache airflow. EPSS estimates a 80.94% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 99.6% of scored vulnerabilities.
Timeline
- 09-09-2021PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
- 04-08-2024Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.
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.
CVSS metrics
4 scores · 2 sources · 3 versions- OSV · PypiEcosystem advisory · calculated9.8CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS trend
Probability
80.94%
Chance of exploitation in the next 30 days
Percentile
100%
Versus all other CVEs
30-day change
0.00 pp
From 80.94% on 18-09-2026
Known exploited
Compare KEV catalogsNot in any of the 3 tracked catalogs.
Public exploits
0 foundNo public exploits indexed.
Weaknesses
CWE · root cause- CWE-269Improper Privilege ManagementThe product does not properly assign, modify, track, or check privileges for an actor, creating an unintended sphere of control for that actor.
- CWE-306Missing Authentication for Critical FunctionThe product does not perform any authentication for functionality that requires a provable user identity or consumes a significant amount of resources.
Affected systems
Apache1 product
- airflow≥ 2.0.0, < 2.1.3
Apache software foundation1 product
- apache airflow≥ Apache Airflow, < 2.1.3
PyPI1 product
- apache-airflow≥ 2.0.0, < 2.1.3
3 vendors · 3 products
References
8 links
- github.com/apache/airflowPACKAGE