CVE-2021-38540
Apache Airflow: Variable Import endpoint missed authentication check
CRITICAL
9.8
CVSS Score
Published: September 9, 2021 at 03:05 PM UTC
Updated: June 17, 2026 at 04:02 AM UTC
1 product affected across 1 vendorAirflow
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Severity
CRITICAL9.8
Exploit prediction
EPSS 81%
Description
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.
Remediation
No guide yetNo remediation guidance has been written for this CVE yet. What the record does show:
References (2)
Mailing Listx_refsource_MLIST
Source: [email protected]
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rac2ed9118f64733e47b4f1e82ddc8c8020774698f13328ca742b03a2%40%3Cannounce.apache.org%3Ex_refsource_MISCMailing ListVendor Advisory
Source: [email protected]
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rb34c3dd1a815456355217eef34060789f771b6f77c3a3dec77de2064%40%3Cusers.airflow.apache.org%3ECVSS
- Attack Vector
- NETWORK
- Complexity
- LOW
- Privileges
- NONE
- User Interaction
- NONE
- Scope
- UNCHANGED
- Confidentiality
- HIGH
- Integrity
- HIGH
- Availability
- HIGH
Vector?
Quick Info
StatusMODIFIED
CWE
CWE-269CWE-306
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