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A new vulnerability has been identified in Apache Airflow, a popular open-source platform to programmatically author, schedule, and monitor workflows. Designated as CVE-2022-43985, this exploit affects versions prior to 2.4.2 and involves an open redirect issue within the webserver's /confirm endpoint. In this blog post, we'll dive into the details of the vulnerability, explore how it could be exploited, and provide information on how to secure your Apache Airflow instance against this exploit.

Vulnerability Details

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The vulnerability was first discovered and reported by (_insert the security researcher or company's name/reporter, if available_). The root cause is an open redirect issue in the /confirm endpoint of the Apache Airflow webserver. An open redirect occurs when a web application accepts untrusted input from an attacker, which can then be used to redirect users to any malicious website. These redirects can be used in phishing attempts and other attack vectors for stealing user credentials, spreading malware, or exploiting other vulnerabilities.

Exploit Walkthrough

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To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker can craft a malicious URL that injects their target URL as a query parameter within the /confirm endpoint. When an unsuspecting user clicks on the malicious link, they would be redirected to the attacker's chosen website instead of the intended, legitimate Apache Airflow page.

Original URL

http://example.com/airflow/confirm?endpoint=dags

Malicious URL

http://example.com/airflow/confirm?endpoint=http%3A%2F%2Fmaliciouswebsite.com%2F

In this example, the attacker has replaced the endpoint query parameter's intended value (dags) with a URL-encoded version of their malicious website. When a user clicks on the malicious URL, they would be taken to the attacker's website instead of the expected Apache Airflow page.

Original References and CVE Information

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You can find the original CVE report, including all pertinent details, at the following resources

1. CVE-2022-43985
2. Apache Airflow GitHub Advisory
3. Apache Airflow Official Statement / Changelog

Each of these sources provides accurate, up-to-date information regarding the vulnerability and relevant impacts. It is essential to stay informed about such issues as they arise and take appropriate action to protect your systems.

Mitigation and Resolution

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To protect your Apache Airflow instance against this vulnerability, it is crucial to update to version 2.4.2 or later, which includes a patch to address the security risk. The patch release is available at the official release page. Once updated, your instance should no longer be susceptible to the open redirect exploit.

Additionally, it's important to practice security best practices to safeguard your Apache Airflow environment, such as:

Regularly reviewing server logs for signs of unauthorized access or tampering

- Applying strong authentication measures, including strong, unique passwords and two-factor authentication (2FA)
- Ensuring that the webserver and associated files, such as DAGs, are stored in secure locations with appropriate file permissions

By adopting these precautions, you can reduce the likelihood of falling victim to CVE-2022-43985, as well as other potential threats, while maintaining the integrity and security of your Apache Airflow instance.

Conclusion

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In summary, the recently identified CVE-2022-43985 vulnerability in Apache Airflow has implications for instances running versions prior to 2.4.2. The issue stems from an open redirect in the webserver's /confirm endpoint, and if left unaddressed, it could introduce significant security risks. To protect your Apache Airflow environment, it is critical to update to the latest version and adopt comprehensive security best practices to prevent potential exploitation. Stay vigilant to safeguard your systems and sensitive data from potential threats.

Timeline

Published on: 11/02/2022 12:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 11/03/2022 13:52:00 UTC