CVE-2023-25754: Apache airflow Apache Airflow Vulnerable To Privilege Vulnerability

CRITICAL
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-jchm-fm4q-c2fp
Share
CVSS 9.8
CWE-270
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2023-25754 is a CRITICAL (CVSS 9.8) apache airflow vulnerable to privilege vulnerability (CWE-270: Privilege Context Switching Error) affecting Apache airflow libraries in the PyPI ecosystem. The issue involves apache airflow vulnerable to privilege context switching error. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.6.0b1.

CVE-2023-25754 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2023-25754
GHSA Identifier GHSA-jchm-fm4q-c2fp
Severity CRITICAL
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 9.8
CWE Classification CWE-270: Privilege Context Switching Error
Affected Product Apache airflow
Package Ecosystem PyPI
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 9.8

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:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).

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

How to Fix CVE-2023-25754

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: 2.6.0b1 
pip install apache-airflow>=2.6.0b1
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-2023-25754, 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 2.6.0b1), 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-270: Privilege Context Switching Error, where the product does not properly manage privileges while it is switching between different contexts that have different privileges or spheres of control. 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

Privilege Context Switching Error vulnerability in Apache Software Foundation Apache Airflow. This issue affects Apache Airflow: before 2.6.0.

CVE-2023-25754 Affected Apache airflow Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.6.0b1
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
apache-airflow
pypi/apache-airflow
PyPI
< 2.6.0b1
2.6.0b1

References

NVD — CVE-2023-25754 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-25754
Apache airflow Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/airflow/pull/29506
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/airflow/commit/18347d36e67894604436f3ef47d273532683b473
Apache airflow Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/airflow
Apache airflow Release RELEASE
https://github.com/apache/airflow/releases/tag/2.6.0
Apache airflow Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/apache-airflow/PYSEC-2023-59.yaml
lists.apache.org/thread/3y83gr0qb8t4... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread/3y83gr0qb8t49ppfk4fb2yk7md8ltq4v
Apache airflow Security Information SECURITY
https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/05/08/2
Apache airflow Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/05/08/2

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2023-25754?
CVE-2023-25754 is a security vulnerability in Apache airflow involving Apache Airflow vulnerable to Privilege Context Switching Error under CWE-270: Privilege Context Switching Error.
Which Apache airflow versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.6.0b1 across affected packages: apache-airflow.
What version fixes CVE-2023-25754?
Upgrading to 2.6.0b1 (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 2.6.0b1. Upgrade your dependency to 2.6.0b1 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2023-25754?
CVE-2023-25754 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 (CRITICAL) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2023-25754?
CVE-2023-25754 is classified under CWE-270: Privilege Context Switching Error (The product does not properly manage privileges while it is switching between different contexts that have different privileges or spheres of control.).
How can I check PyPI dependencies for CVE-2023-25754?
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 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-jchm-fm4q-c2fp",
  "modified" : "2025-02-13T18:54:28Z",
  "published" : "2023-05-08T12:30:29Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2023-25754" ],
  "summary" : "Apache Airflow vulnerable to Privilege Context Switching Error",
  "details" : "Privilege Context Switching Error vulnerability in Apache Software Foundation Apache Airflow. This issue affects Apache Airflow: before 2.6.0.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  }, {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "PyPI",
      "name" : "apache-airflow"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.6.0b1"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-25754"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/airflow/pull/29506"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/airflow/commit/18347d36e67894604436f3ef47d273532683b473"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/airflow"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/airflow/releases/tag/2.6.0"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/apache-airflow/PYSEC-2023-59.yaml"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread/3y83gr0qb8t49ppfk4fb2yk7md8ltq4v"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/05/08/2"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/05/08/2"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-270" ],
    "severity" : "CRITICAL",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2023-05-11T20:32:46Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2023-05-08T12:15:09Z"
  }
}