CVE-2020-17515: Apache airflow Cross-Site Scripting Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-86vp-x3pr-79rx
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CVSS 6.1
CWE-79
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2020-17515 is a MODERATE (CVSS 6.1) cross-site scripting vulnerability (CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')) affecting Apache airflow libraries in the PyPI ecosystem. The issue involves apache airflow cross-site scripting due to incomplete fix for cve-2020-13944. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.10.15rc1, 2.0.2rc1.

CVE-2020-17515 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2020-17515
GHSA Identifier GHSA-86vp-x3pr-79rx
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 6.1
CWE Classification CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
Affected Product Apache airflow
Package Ecosystem PyPI
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 6.1

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction Required (UI:R)
Scope Changed (S:C)
Confidentiality Low (C:L)
Integrity Low (I:L)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2020-17515

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Apache airflow dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

apache-airflow fixed: 1.10.15rc1 
pip install apache-airflow>=1.10.15rc1
apache-airflow fixed: 2.0.2rc1 
pip install apache-airflow>=2.0.2rc1
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

pip show apache-airflow

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Python environment is affected by CVE-2020-17515, inspect your installed packages using pip:

pip show apache-airflow

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Apache airflow in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 1.10.15rc1), your application is affected.

Note: The pip show apache-airflow command checks currently installed packages in your active Python environment.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting'), where the product does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes user-controllable input before it is placed in output that is used as a web page that is served to other users. In Apache airflow, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

The `origin` parameter passed to some of the endpoints like `/trigger` was vulnerable to XSS exploit. This issue affects Apache Airflow versions prior to 1.10.15. This is same as CVE-2020-13944 but the implemented fix in Airflow 1.10.13 did not fix the issue completely.

CVE-2020-17515 Affected Apache airflow Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
1.10.15rc12.0.2rc1
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
apache-airflow
pypi/apache-airflow
PyPI
< 1.10.15rc1
1.10.15rc1
apache-airflow
pypi/apache-airflow
PyPI
≥ 2.0.0b1
< 2.0.2rc1
2.0.2rc1

References

NVD — CVE-2020-17515 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-17515
Apache airflow Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/airflow/pull/14738
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/airflow/commit/13336272e32872247fa7d17e964ccd88ec8d1376
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/airflow/commit/409c249121bd9c8902fc2ba551b21873ab41f953
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/airflow/commit/7486153f451e4d2bb1c6fd9cbb5a63430157c99c
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/airflow/commit/ab8c55878e3e4257d2276226cb17b047ba856686
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/airflow/commit/c6369beed53d41c0a70415b0d958bf0604124ad7
pypi.org/project/apache-airf... WEB
https://pypi.org/project/apache-airflow
lists.apache.org/thread.html/rc005f4... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rc005f4de9d9b0ba943ceb8ff5a21a5c6ff8a9df52632476698d99432@%3Cannounce.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/ra8ce70... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/ra8ce70088ba291f358e077cafdb14d174b7a1ce9a9d86d1b332d6367@%3Cusers.airflow.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/r465695... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r4656959c8ed06c1f6202d89aa4e67b35ad7bdba5a666caff3fea888e@%3Cusers.airflow.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/r465695... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r4656959c8ed06c1f6202d89aa4e67b35ad7bdba5a666caff3fea888e%40%3Cusers.airflow.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/r2892ef... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r2892ef594dbbf54d0939b808626f52f7c2d1584f8aa1d81570847d2a@%3Cusers.airflow.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/r2892ef... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r2892ef594dbbf54d0939b808626f52f7c2d1584f8aa1d81570847d2a@%3Cdev.airflow.apache.org%3E
lists.apache.org/thread.html/r2892ef... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r2892ef594dbbf54d0939b808626f52f7c2d1584f8aa1d81570847d2a@%3Cannounce.apache.org%3E
Apache airflow Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/apache-airflow/PYSEC-2020-21.yaml
Apache airflow Release RELEASE
https://github.com/apache/airflow/releases/tag/2.0.2
Apache airflow Release RELEASE
https://github.com/apache/airflow/releases/tag/1.10.15
Apache airflow Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/airflow
GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-86vp-x3pr-79rx
Apache airflow Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2020/12/11/2
Apache airflow Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/05/01/2

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2020-17515?
CVE-2020-17515 is a security vulnerability in Apache airflow involving Apache Airflow cross-site scripting due to incomplete fix for CVE-2020-13944 under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting').
Which Apache airflow versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 1.10.15rc1, 2.0.2rc1 across affected packages: apache-airflow.
What version fixes CVE-2020-17515?
Upgrading to 1.10.15rc1, 2.0.2rc1 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is apache-airflow affected?
Yes, apache-airflow is affected in releases prior to 1.10.15rc1, 2.0.2rc1. Upgrade your dependency to 1.10.15rc1, 2.0.2rc1 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2020-17515?
CVE-2020-17515 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.1 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2020-17515?
CVE-2020-17515 is classified under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') (The product does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes user-controllable input before it is placed in output that is used as a web page that is served to other users.).
How can I check PyPI dependencies for CVE-2020-17515?
Run the dependency tree command: 'pip show apache-airflow'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
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  "summary" : "Apache Airflow cross-site scripting due to incomplete fix for CVE-2020-13944",
  "details" : "The `origin` parameter passed to some of the endpoints like `/trigger` was vulnerable to XSS exploit. This issue affects Apache Airflow versions prior to 1.10.15. This is same as CVE-2020-13944 but the implemented fix in Airflow 1.10.13 did not fix the issue completely.",
  "severity" : [ {
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  } ],
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    },
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  "references" : [ {
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  }, {
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  }, {
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  }, {
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  }, {
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  }, {
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  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
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    "severity" : "MODERATE",
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    "github_reviewed_at" : "2021-04-08T23:23:06Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2020-12-11T14:15:00Z"
  }
}