CVE-2026-107474 in Apache Airflow
Summary
by MITRE • 11/09/2026
The Apache Airflow connections API did not mask the apprise provider's `config` connection extra, which can embed notification-service credentials. A user with permission to read connections could retrieve it in cleartext, although Airflow 3 treats connection credentials as write-only.
Users are advised to upgrade to apache-airflow 3.4.0 or later.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/09/2026
The vulnerability identified within the Apache Airflow connections API represents a significant information disclosure flaw affecting versions prior to 3.4.0, specifically involving the integration with the apprise provider. This component is responsible for managing notification services and relies on connection objects to store sensitive configuration details, including credentials required to authenticate with external notification platforms such as email gateways or messaging APIs. The core technical failure lies in how these extra fields are handled during API responses; rather than masking or redacting sensitive data like passwords or tokens embedded within the config parameter of a connection object, the system exposes them in cleartext when queried by authorized users. This behavior contradicts standard security practices for credential management and creates an unintended attack vector where stored secrets become accessible through legitimate administrative interfaces.
From a technical perspective, this issue stems from insufficient sanitization logic in the API layer that serializes connection metadata for retrieval operations. When a user with read permissions on connections invokes the relevant endpoint to view or list existing configurations, the system includes the raw values of sensitive extra fields instead of replacing them with placeholder characters such as asterisks or null values. This oversight allows any authenticated entity possessing the requisite role-based access control privileges to extract plaintext credentials directly from the API response payload. The flaw is particularly concerning because it bypasses the principle of least privilege regarding secret visibility, effectively granting read access to data that should be treated as write-only during normal operational workflows.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, potentially leading to broader security compromises within an organization's infrastructure. An attacker who gains control over a user account with connection-reading permissions can harvest these credentials and subsequently impersonate the notification service integration points. This could facilitate unauthorized alerting, manipulation of incident response workflows by sending false notifications or suppressing critical alerts, or even serve as a stepping stone for further lateral movement if those credentials are reused across other systems. In environments where Airflow orchestrates sensitive data processing pipelines, exposing authentication tokens for external services increases the risk of supply chain attacks and undermines trust in automated monitoring mechanisms that rely on these integrations for security observability.
Industry standards classify this type of flaw under CWE-259, which addresses the use of hard-coded passwords or credentials, although more accurately it aligns with CWE-798 regarding the use of hardcoded credentials in configuration files and APIs where secrets are exposed due to improper handling rather than static embedding. Furthermore, from a tactical standpoint within the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability supports techniques related to Credential Access via Unsecured Credentials or Discovery through API manipulation, as it allows adversaries to gather sensitive information without exploiting code execution flaws but rather by abusing legitimate access controls. The exposure of secrets in transit over an authenticated channel highlights gaps in data classification and masking policies that should be enforced at the application layer for all secret-bearing fields regardless of user role permissions.
To mitigate this risk, organizations must prioritize upgrading their Apache Airflow instances to version 3.4.0 or later, where the development team has addressed this issue by ensuring that connection credentials are treated as write-only data in API responses. Until such an upgrade is feasible, administrators should implement strict access controls limiting who can query connections and consider rotating any exposed credentials immediately if a breach is suspected. Additionally, implementing network-level security measures like Web Application Firewalls with sensitive parameter detection rules may help obscure these values during transit, although this serves only as a compensating control rather than a definitive fix. Regular audits of connection configurations and enforcement of least-privilege principles for API endpoints are essential to prevent similar exposures in future deployments or other integrated services within the orchestration ecosystem.