CVE-2019-0216 in Airflow
Summary
by MITRE
A malicious admin user could edit the state of objects in the Airflow metadata database to execute arbitrary javascript on certain page views.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/28/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-0216 represents a critical security flaw in Apache Airflow that allows authenticated administrative users to manipulate the metadata database and execute arbitrary javascript code through specific page views. This issue stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the Airflow web interface, particularly when handling object state modifications that are subsequently rendered in web contexts.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper handling of user-supplied data within the Airflow metadata database operations. When an administrative user modifies object states, the system fails to adequately sanitize or validate the input data before storing it in the database. This lack of proper sanitization creates a persistent cross-site scripting vulnerability where malicious javascript code can be injected and stored as part of legitimate object metadata. The vulnerability specifically affects certain page views where this stored data is rendered without proper output encoding or context-appropriate escaping mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it transforms a legitimate administrative account into a potential vector for arbitrary code execution across the Airflow web interface. An attacker with administrative privileges can craft malicious javascript payloads that will execute whenever affected pages are loaded by other users, potentially leading to session hijacking, data exfiltration, or further compromise of the Airflow environment. This vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the entire Airflow metadata management system, as it allows attackers to manipulate the state of objects in ways that can persist across system restarts and user sessions.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which describes Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) flaws, and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter. Organizations using Airflow are particularly vulnerable when administrative accounts are compromised or when privileged users have unnecessary access to the metadata database modification capabilities. The attack surface is expanded when multiple users can access the web interface, as any administrative user with database modification privileges can exploit this vulnerability to inject malicious code that affects all users who view the affected pages.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the Airflow web application. The system should enforce strict sanitization of all user-supplied data before storage in the metadata database, particularly for fields that are later rendered in web contexts. Regular security audits should be conducted to ensure that administrative privileges are properly restricted and that least-privilege principles are enforced. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can provide an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring systems to detect and prevent suspicious database modification patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts.