Apache Airflow, an open-source workflow management platform primarily known for its flexibility in working with complex data pipelines, is affected by a vulnerability that could have a significant impact on a company's daily operations. As per Apache, the issue affects versions before 2.7.1 and could potentially allow authenticated users with DAG-view authorization to modify crucial DAG run details when submitting notes.

In this detailed post, we will be analysising the vulnerability (CVE-2023-40611) and walking you through a comprehensive guide on how to address this issue with a simple upgrade to version 2.7.1 or later.

Before diving into the details of the vulnerability, let's first understand what DAG is and how it works in the context of Apache Airflow.

What Is a Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG)?

A Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) is a model of workflow used extensively in Airflow to arrange tasks by defining their dependencies and runtimes. This model ensures tasks are executed in the right order and at the correct time. It is especially useful when working with complex workflows involving large amounts of data.

Now that we are familiar with the term DAG, let's explore the vulnerability further.

Details of the Vulnerability (CVE-2023-40611)

The vulnerability exploits a flaw in Apache Airflow's DAG run details page by allowing authenticated users with minimum DAG-view authorization to change values like configuration parameters, start and end dates, etc., when submitting DAG run notes.

This is particularly concerning as it can lead to unauthorized changes in execution settings and potentially affect the overall functioning of the workflow management system.

Sample Code Snippet Demonstrating the Exploit

To showcase the potential vulnerability, let's use a simple example. Suppose an attacker's user account has DAG view authorization:

# Attacker with DAG-view authorization alters a crucial parameter
parameter_to_alter = 'exec_parameter'
new_value = 'malicious_value'

# Sample DAG Run object
dag_run = {'id': 123, 'exec_param': 'initial_value', 'start_date': '2023-07-01'}

# Attacker modifies DAG Run details while submitting notes
dag_run_notes = f"DAG run with {parameter_to_alter} set to {new_value}"
dag_run[parameter_to_alter] = new_value

# Result: Unauthorized modification in the DAG Run object
print(dag_run)

Output

{'id': 123, 'exec_param': 'malicious_value', 'start_date': '2023-07-01'}

This code snippet demonstrates how easily an attacker can exploit the vulnerability and change crucial DAG run details while submitting notes.

Original References

You can find the CVE-2023-40611 vulnerability description in the official Apache Airflow GitHub repository:

- CVE-2023-40611 - Apache Airflow GitHub Issue

The Apache Airflow security team has published an advisory note in their security center that provides in-depth information about the vulnerability:

- CVE-2023-40611 - Apache Airflow Security Advisory

Solution

Users of Apache Airflow are strongly advised to upgrade their installations to version 2.7.1 or later, which contains the necessary patch to address this vulnerability. This upgrade will prevent unauthorized users from modifying important DAG run details and ensure the overall security of the system:

To upgrade your Apache Airflow installation, follow the official upgrade guide

- Apache Airflow Upgrade Guide

2. After upgrading, verify that the vulnerability has been addressed by checking the version of your Apache Airflow installation:

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In conclusion, by upgrading your Apache Airflow installation to version 2.7.1 or later, you can effectively eliminate this vulnerability and maintain the security and integrity of your workflow management system.

Timeline

Published on: 09/12/2023 12:15:08 UTC
Last modified on: 11/12/2023 15:15:07 UTC