CVE-2022-40604: CWE-134 Use of Externally-Controlled Format String in Apache Software Foundation Apache Airflow
In Apache Airflow 2.3.0 through 2.3.4, part of a url was unnecessarily formatted, allowing for possible information extraction.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
CVE-2022-40604 is a high-severity vulnerability identified in Apache Airflow versions 2.3.0 through 2.3.4. The issue stems from the improper handling of a URL component within the application, where part of the URL was unnecessarily subjected to string formatting operations. This behavior corresponds to CWE-134, which is the Use of Externally-Controlled Format String vulnerability. In this context, an attacker could craft a malicious URL or input that triggers the vulnerable formatting function, potentially causing unintended information disclosure. Specifically, the vulnerability allows an attacker to extract sensitive information from the system by exploiting the format string processing flaw. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable over the network without requiring authentication or user interaction, as indicated by the CVSS vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N). The impact is primarily on confidentiality, with no direct effect on integrity or availability. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability's nature and ease of exploitation make it a significant risk for affected deployments. Apache Airflow is a widely used open-source platform for programmatically authoring, scheduling, and monitoring workflows, often deployed in enterprise environments for data engineering and analytics pipelines. The flaw arises from the unnecessary formatting of URL parts, which can be manipulated by an attacker to leak sensitive information such as environment variables, configuration details, or other internal data that should remain confidential. The absence of patches linked in the provided data suggests that users should verify the availability of updates from the Apache Software Foundation and apply them promptly to mitigate this risk.
Potential Impact
For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-40604 can be significant, especially for those relying on Apache Airflow for critical data processing and workflow orchestration. The confidentiality breach could expose sensitive business data, intellectual property, or personal data protected under GDPR, leading to regulatory penalties and reputational damage. Since Apache Airflow is often integrated with various data sources and cloud services, an attacker exploiting this vulnerability could gain insights into internal configurations or credentials, potentially facilitating further attacks or lateral movement within the network. The lack of required authentication and user interaction increases the risk of automated exploitation attempts, which could be conducted remotely from anywhere. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, telecommunications, and government, which commonly use Apache Airflow for data workflows, are particularly at risk. The exposure of sensitive information could also undermine trust with customers and partners, and in regulated industries, could trigger mandatory breach notifications. Additionally, the vulnerability could be leveraged as a reconnaissance tool by threat actors to map internal environments and identify further attack vectors.
Mitigation Recommendations
To mitigate CVE-2022-40604, European organizations should take the following specific actions beyond generic patching advice: 1) Immediately verify the Apache Airflow version in use and upgrade to a version where this vulnerability is fixed (check Apache's official security advisories for patched versions beyond 2.3.4). 2) Implement strict input validation and sanitization on any user-controllable inputs, especially URL parameters, to prevent malicious format strings from being processed. 3) Employ network-level controls such as Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) to detect and block suspicious requests that may exploit format string vulnerabilities. 4) Conduct thorough code reviews and security testing on custom Airflow plugins or extensions that might interact with URL inputs to ensure they do not introduce similar vulnerabilities. 5) Monitor logs for unusual access patterns or error messages related to format string processing to detect potential exploitation attempts early. 6) Restrict access to Airflow web interfaces and APIs using strong authentication and network segmentation to reduce exposure. 7) Educate development and operations teams about the risks of format string vulnerabilities and secure coding practices to prevent recurrence. 8) If immediate patching is not feasible, consider deploying runtime application self-protection (RASP) solutions that can intercept and block malicious format string usage dynamically.
Affected Countries
Germany, France, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Sweden, Italy, Spain, Poland
CVE-2022-40604: CWE-134 Use of Externally-Controlled Format String in Apache Software Foundation Apache Airflow
Description
In Apache Airflow 2.3.0 through 2.3.4, part of a url was unnecessarily formatted, allowing for possible information extraction.
AI-Powered Analysis
Technical Analysis
CVE-2022-40604 is a high-severity vulnerability identified in Apache Airflow versions 2.3.0 through 2.3.4. The issue stems from the improper handling of a URL component within the application, where part of the URL was unnecessarily subjected to string formatting operations. This behavior corresponds to CWE-134, which is the Use of Externally-Controlled Format String vulnerability. In this context, an attacker could craft a malicious URL or input that triggers the vulnerable formatting function, potentially causing unintended information disclosure. Specifically, the vulnerability allows an attacker to extract sensitive information from the system by exploiting the format string processing flaw. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable over the network without requiring authentication or user interaction, as indicated by the CVSS vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N). The impact is primarily on confidentiality, with no direct effect on integrity or availability. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability's nature and ease of exploitation make it a significant risk for affected deployments. Apache Airflow is a widely used open-source platform for programmatically authoring, scheduling, and monitoring workflows, often deployed in enterprise environments for data engineering and analytics pipelines. The flaw arises from the unnecessary formatting of URL parts, which can be manipulated by an attacker to leak sensitive information such as environment variables, configuration details, or other internal data that should remain confidential. The absence of patches linked in the provided data suggests that users should verify the availability of updates from the Apache Software Foundation and apply them promptly to mitigate this risk.
Potential Impact
For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-40604 can be significant, especially for those relying on Apache Airflow for critical data processing and workflow orchestration. The confidentiality breach could expose sensitive business data, intellectual property, or personal data protected under GDPR, leading to regulatory penalties and reputational damage. Since Apache Airflow is often integrated with various data sources and cloud services, an attacker exploiting this vulnerability could gain insights into internal configurations or credentials, potentially facilitating further attacks or lateral movement within the network. The lack of required authentication and user interaction increases the risk of automated exploitation attempts, which could be conducted remotely from anywhere. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, telecommunications, and government, which commonly use Apache Airflow for data workflows, are particularly at risk. The exposure of sensitive information could also undermine trust with customers and partners, and in regulated industries, could trigger mandatory breach notifications. Additionally, the vulnerability could be leveraged as a reconnaissance tool by threat actors to map internal environments and identify further attack vectors.
Mitigation Recommendations
To mitigate CVE-2022-40604, European organizations should take the following specific actions beyond generic patching advice: 1) Immediately verify the Apache Airflow version in use and upgrade to a version where this vulnerability is fixed (check Apache's official security advisories for patched versions beyond 2.3.4). 2) Implement strict input validation and sanitization on any user-controllable inputs, especially URL parameters, to prevent malicious format strings from being processed. 3) Employ network-level controls such as Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) to detect and block suspicious requests that may exploit format string vulnerabilities. 4) Conduct thorough code reviews and security testing on custom Airflow plugins or extensions that might interact with URL inputs to ensure they do not introduce similar vulnerabilities. 5) Monitor logs for unusual access patterns or error messages related to format string processing to detect potential exploitation attempts early. 6) Restrict access to Airflow web interfaces and APIs using strong authentication and network segmentation to reduce exposure. 7) Educate development and operations teams about the risks of format string vulnerabilities and secure coding practices to prevent recurrence. 8) If immediate patching is not feasible, consider deploying runtime application self-protection (RASP) solutions that can intercept and block malicious format string usage dynamically.
Affected Countries
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Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.1
- Assigner Short Name
- apache
- Date Reserved
- 2022-09-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Cvss Version
- 3.1
- State
- PUBLISHED
Threat ID: 68360472182aa0cae21ef779
Added to database: 5/27/2025, 6:29:06 PM
Last enriched: 7/6/2025, 2:39:57 AM
Last updated: 7/30/2025, 7:28:08 PM
Views: 19
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