CVE-2023-28707 in Airflow Drill Provider
Summary
by MITRE • 04/07/2023
Improper Input Validation vulnerability in Apache Software Foundation Apache Airflow Drill Provider.This issue affects Apache Airflow Drill Provider: before 2.3.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/23/2024
The CVE-2023-28707 vulnerability represents a critical improper input validation flaw within the Apache Software Foundation's Apache Airflow Drill Provider component. This vulnerability exists in versions prior to 2.3.2 and constitutes a significant security risk for organizations utilizing Apache Airflow for data processing workflows. The affected component is part of the broader Apache Airflow ecosystem, which serves as a platform for programmatically authoring, scheduling, and monitoring workflows. The Drill Provider specifically enables integration with Apache Drill, a distributed SQL query engine designed for interactive analytics on large datasets.
The technical flaw manifests through inadequate validation of user-provided inputs within the Drill Provider functionality, creating potential attack vectors for malicious actors to manipulate workflow execution. This improper input validation allows for the injection of malformed data or commands that can bypass intended security controls. The vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization and verification of input parameters before they are processed within the Drill integration layer. Attackers could exploit this weakness to inject arbitrary commands or manipulate query execution parameters, potentially leading to unauthorized data access or system compromise. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which specifically addresses improper input validation as a fundamental security weakness in software applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data integrity concerns, potentially enabling attackers to execute unauthorized operations within the Airflow environment. Organizations relying on Drill Provider for data processing may face risks including unauthorized data exfiltration, command injection attacks, or disruption of workflow execution. The vulnerability particularly affects environments where Airflow workflows interact with sensitive data sources through Drill connections, making it especially dangerous for organizations handling regulated information or proprietary datasets. Security incidents could result in compliance violations, data breaches, or operational disruptions that impact business continuity and regulatory compliance.
Organizations should immediately upgrade their Apache Airflow Drill Provider installations to version 2.3.2 or later to mitigate this vulnerability. The recommended mitigation strategy includes implementing comprehensive input validation controls and conducting thorough security assessments of existing workflows. Additional protective measures should encompass network segmentation, access controls, and monitoring of workflow execution logs for anomalous activities. Security teams should also implement regular vulnerability scanning and penetration testing to identify potential exploitation vectors. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date software components and implementing robust input validation practices across all integration points. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, as it enables command injection through improperly validated inputs. Organizations should also consider implementing principle of least privilege access controls and regular security training for personnel managing Airflow environments to reduce the overall attack surface and improve incident response capabilities.