Remote code execution (RCE) in Apache Airflow
CISA confirms exploitation of this vulnerability in real attacks. Prioritise checking whether your application is affected. CISA KEV · CC0 1.0
An issue was found in Apache Airflow versions 1.10.10 and below. A remote code/command injection vulnerability was discovered in one of the example DAGs shipped with Airflow which would allow any authenticated user to run arbitrary commands as the user running airflow worker/scheduler (depending on the executor in use). If you already have examples disabled by setting load_examples=False in the config then you are not vulnerable.
Affected software
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| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Python (PyPI) | apache-airflow | < 1.10.11rc1 | 1.10.11rc1 |
References
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r7255cf0be3566f23a768e2a04b40fb09e52fcd1872695428ba9afe91%40%3Cusers.airflow.apache.org%3E
- https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-rvmq-4x66-q7j3
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-11978
- https://github.com/apache/airflow/pull/9143
- https://github.com/apache/airflow/commit/2fa51576e1283f5732e38fada686fd248d9c3a1e
- https://github.com/apache/airflow/commit/4d8599e8b0520ff4226fbad72f724afae50fdd08
- https://github.com/apache/airflow
- https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/apache-airflow/PYSEC-2020-14.yaml
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2020-11978
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/162908/Apache-Airflow-1.10.10-Remote-Code-Execution.html
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/174764/Apache-Airflow-1.10.10-Remote-Code-Execution.html
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:H- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-77, CWE-78- Platform
- Python (PyPI)
- Package
apache-airflow- Disclosed
- 17.07.2020
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 12:19
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - PYSEC-2020-14 - PyPA Advisory Database; CC BY 4.0
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-rvmq-4x66-q7j3 - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: apache-airflow
All published vulnerabilities of this package (Python (PyPI)), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
- Total entries
- 158
- First → latest
- 08.2018 09.2026
- Without a fix
- 4
- Exploited in attacks
- 2
Severity breakdown
- Critical 16
- High 49
- Medium 86
- Low 7
Disclosures per year
- 2018: 1
- 2019: 8
- 2020: 12
- 2021: 5
- 2022: 16
- 2023: 31
- 2024: 18
- 2025: 6
- 2026: 61
-
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