CVE-2022-40189 in Airflow
Summary
by MITRE • 11/22/2022
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection') vulnerability in Apache Airflow Pig Provider, Apache Airflow allows an attacker to control commands executed in the task execution context, without write access to DAG files. This issue affects Pig Provider versions prior to 4.0.0. It also impacts any Apache Airflow versions prior to 2.3.0 in case Pig Provider is installed (Pig Provider 4.0.0 can only be installed for Airflow 2.3.0+). Note that you need to manually install the Pig Provider version 4.0.0 in order to get rid of the vulnerability on top of Airflow 2.3.0+ version.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/29/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical operating system command injection flaw in the Apache Airflow Pig Provider component, which enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the system where Airflow is running. The issue stems from improper sanitization of user-supplied input that gets incorporated into operating system commands without adequate neutralization of special characters. Attackers can exploit this weakness to inject malicious commands that will be executed within the task execution context, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability specifically affects Apache Airflow versions prior to 2.3.0 when the Pig Provider is installed, with the Pig Provider versions before 4.0.0 being particularly susceptible to this attack vector. This classification aligns with CWE-77, which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in operating system commands, a fundamental security weakness that allows attackers to manipulate command execution flows.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when user-provided data containing command injection payloads is passed to system commands within the Airflow task execution environment. The Pig Provider component, which is designed to execute Apache Pig scripts through Airflow workflows, fails to properly sanitize input parameters before incorporating them into shell commands. This allows attackers to append malicious commands that will execute with the privileges of the Airflow process, potentially enabling privilege escalation, data exfiltration, or system persistence mechanisms. The attack can be executed without requiring write access to DAG files, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through legitimate Airflow workflow interfaces or configuration parameters that accept user input.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple command execution, as it can lead to full system compromise when attackers leverage the ability to execute arbitrary code on the Airflow host. An attacker could potentially escalate privileges to gain access to other system resources, manipulate or steal sensitive data processed by Airflow workflows, or establish persistent backdoors through the compromised Airflow installation. The vulnerability affects not only the immediate execution environment but also any downstream systems that Airflow interacts with, potentially creating a broader attack surface. This weakness particularly impacts organizations using Airflow for data processing pipelines where sensitive information flows through automated workflows, as the compromise of one component can lead to widespread data exposure.
Organizations should immediately upgrade to Apache Airflow 2.3.0 or later versions and install Pig Provider 4.0.0 or higher to remediate this vulnerability, as manual installation is required to achieve the security fixes. System administrators should also implement network segmentation to limit access to Airflow installations and monitor for unusual command execution patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additional mitigations include restricting Airflow's execution privileges, implementing strict input validation for workflow parameters, and regularly auditing Airflow configurations to ensure that only authorized users can submit workflows. Organizations should also consider implementing the principle of least privilege for Airflow processes and establishing proper access controls to prevent unauthorized modifications to workflow definitions or execution parameters, aligning with defense-in-depth strategies recommended in the MITRE ATT&CK framework for command and control operations.