CVE-2023-40611: Apache airflow Apache Airflow Incorrect Authorization Vulnerability Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-wpg8-mf6h-gm92
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CVSS 4.3
CWE-863
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2023-40611 is a MODERATE (CVSS 4.3) apache airflow incorrect authorization vulnerability vulnerability (CWE-863: Incorrect Authorization) affecting Apache airflow libraries in the PyPI ecosystem. The issue involves apache airflow incorrect authorization vulnerability. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.7.1.

CVE-2023-40611 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2023-40611
GHSA Identifier GHSA-wpg8-mf6h-gm92
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 4.3
CWE Classification CWE-863: Incorrect Authorization
Affected Product Apache airflow
Package Ecosystem PyPI
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 4.3

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:N/I:L/A:N).

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 None (C:N)
Integrity Low (I:L)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2023-40611

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: 2.7.1 
pip install apache-airflow>=2.7.1
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-2023-40611, 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 2.7.1), 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-863: Incorrect Authorization, where the product performs an authorization check when an actor attempts to access a resource or perform an action, but it does not correctly perform the check. 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

Apache Airflow, versions before 2.7.1, is affected by a vulnerability that allows authenticated and DAG-view authorized Users to modify some DAG run detail values when submitting notes. This could have them alter details such as configuration parameters, start date, etc. Users should upgrade to version 2.7.1 or later which has removed the vulnerability.

CVE-2023-40611 Affected Apache airflow Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.7.1
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
apache-airflow
pypi/apache-airflow
PyPI
< 2.7.1
2.7.1

References

NVD — CVE-2023-40611 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-40611
Apache airflow Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/airflow/pull/33413
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/airflow/commit/2a0106e4edf67c5905ebfcb82a6008662ae0f7ad
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/airflow/commit/b7a46c970d638028a4a7643ad000dcee951fb9ef
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-2023-170.yaml
lists.apache.org/thread/8y9xk1s3j4qr... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread/8y9xk1s3j4qr36yzqn8ogbn9fl7pxrn0
Apache airflow Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/11/12/1

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2023-40611?
CVE-2023-40611 is a security vulnerability in Apache airflow involving Apache Airflow Incorrect Authorization vulnerability under CWE-863: Incorrect Authorization.
Which Apache airflow versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.7.1 across affected packages: apache-airflow.
What version fixes CVE-2023-40611?
Upgrading to 2.7.1 (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 2.7.1. Upgrade your dependency to 2.7.1 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2023-40611?
CVE-2023-40611 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 4.3 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2023-40611?
CVE-2023-40611 is classified under CWE-863: Incorrect Authorization (The product performs an authorization check when an actor attempts to access a resource or perform an action, but it does not correctly perform the check.).
How can I check PyPI dependencies for CVE-2023-40611?
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-wpg8-mf6h-gm92",
  "modified" : "2025-02-13T19:11:46Z",
  "published" : "2023-09-12T18:58:34Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2023-40611" ],
  "summary" : "Apache Airflow Incorrect Authorization vulnerability",
  "details" : "Apache Airflow, versions before 2.7.1, is affected by a vulnerability that allows authenticated and DAG-view authorized Users to modify some DAG run detail values when submitting notes. This could have them alter details such as configuration parameters, start date, etc.\n\nUsers should upgrade to version 2.7.1 or later which has removed the vulnerability.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N"
  }, {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "PyPI",
      "name" : "apache-airflow"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.7.1"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-40611"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/airflow/pull/33413"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/airflow/commit/2a0106e4edf67c5905ebfcb82a6008662ae0f7ad"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/airflow/commit/b7a46c970d638028a4a7643ad000dcee951fb9ef"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/airflow"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/apache-airflow/PYSEC-2023-170.yaml"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread/8y9xk1s3j4qr36yzqn8ogbn9fl7pxrn0"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/11/12/1"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-863" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2023-09-12T18:58:34Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2023-09-12T12:15:08Z"
  }
}