Missing Authentication for Critical Function in Apache Airflow
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 software
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| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Python (PyPI) | apache-airflow | >= 2.0.0, < 2.1.3 | 2.1.3 |
References
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rb34c3dd1a815456355217eef34060789f771b6f77c3a3dec77de2064%40%3Cusers.airflow.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rac2ed9118f64733e47b4f1e82ddc8c8020774698f13328ca742b03a2@%3Cannounce.apache.org%3E
- https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-h88f-r7cw-8fv3
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-38540
- https://github.com/apache/airflow/commit/bcec1df703cd4a01520a90c3f801cca6f97d9bfd
- https://github.com/apache/airflow
- https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/apache-airflow/PYSEC-2021-326.yaml
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-306- Platform
- Python (PyPI)
- Package
apache-airflow- Disclosed
- 09.09.2021
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 11:19
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - PYSEC-2021-326 - PyPA Advisory Database; CC BY 4.0
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-h88f-r7cw-8fv3 - 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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