CVE-2022-40127: Apache airflow Apache Airflow Vulnerable To OS Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-6pw3-8h9w-32gc
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CVSS 8.8
CWE-78 CWE-94
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2022-40127 is a HIGH (CVSS 8.8) apache airflow vulnerable to os vulnerability (CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')) affecting Apache airflow libraries in the PyPI ecosystem. The issue involves apache airflow vulnerable to os command injection via example dags. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.4.0.

CVE-2022-40127 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2022-40127
GHSA Identifier GHSA-6pw3-8h9w-32gc
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 8.8
CWE Classification CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
Affected Product Apache airflow
Package Ecosystem PyPI
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 8.8

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

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required Low (PR:L)
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-2022-40127

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: 2.4.0 
pip install apache-airflow>=2.4.0
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-2022-40127, 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 2.4.0), 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-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection'), where the product constructs all or part of an os command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended os command when it is sent to a downstream component. 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

A vulnerability in Example Dags of Apache Airflow allows an attacker with UI access who can trigger DAGs, to execute arbitrary commands via manually provided run_id parameter. This issue affects Apache Airflow versions prior to 2.4.0.

CVE-2022-40127 Affected Apache airflow Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.4.0
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
apache-airflow
pypi/apache-airflow
PyPI
< 2.4.0
2.4.0

References

NVD — CVE-2022-40127 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-40127
Apache airflow Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/airflow/pull/25960
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/airflow/commit/372e699c2d1e11f7087b5340454d0a0a6a56fbf5
Apache airflow Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/airflow
Apache airflow Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/apache-airflow/PYSEC-2022-42982.yaml
lists.apache.org/thread/cf132hgm6jvz... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread/cf132hgm6jvzvsbpsozl3plf1r4cwysy
Apache airflow Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2022/11/14/2

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2022-40127?
CVE-2022-40127 is a security vulnerability in Apache airflow involving Apache Airflow vulnerable to OS Command Injection via example DAGs under CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection').
Which Apache airflow versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.4.0 across affected packages: apache-airflow.
What version fixes CVE-2022-40127?
Upgrading to 2.4.0 (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 2.4.0. Upgrade your dependency to 2.4.0 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2022-40127?
CVE-2022-40127 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.8 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2022-40127?
CVE-2022-40127 is classified under CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection') (The product constructs all or part of an OS command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended OS command when it is sent to a downstream component.).
How can I check PyPI dependencies for CVE-2022-40127?
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-6pw3-8h9w-32gc",
  "modified" : "2025-05-01T13:29:01Z",
  "published" : "2022-11-14T12:00:15Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2022-40127" ],
  "summary" : "Apache Airflow vulnerable to OS Command Injection via example DAGs",
  "details" : "A vulnerability in Example Dags of Apache Airflow allows an attacker with UI access who can trigger DAGs, to execute arbitrary commands via manually provided run_id parameter. This issue affects Apache Airflow versions prior to 2.4.0.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  }, {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/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" : "2.4.0"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-40127"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/airflow/pull/25960"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/airflow/commit/372e699c2d1e11f7087b5340454d0a0a6a56fbf5"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/airflow"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/apache-airflow/PYSEC-2022-42982.yaml"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread/cf132hgm6jvzvsbpsozl3plf1r4cwysy"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2022/11/14/2"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-78", "CWE-94" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2022-11-16T03:52:20Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2022-11-14T10:15:00Z"
  }
}