CVE-2022-45402 is a medium-severity vulnerability classified as CWE-601 (URL Redirection to Untrusted Site, commonly known as an Open Redirect) found in the Apache Airflow webserver prior to version 2.4.3. Apache Airflow is an open-source platform widely used for orchestrating complex workflows and data pipelines. The vulnerability exists in the /login endpoint of the Airflow webserver, where an attacker can manipulate URL parameters to redirect users to arbitrary, potentially malicious external websites. This open redirect flaw arises because the application does not properly validate or restrict the URLs provided in the redirection parameter, allowing an attacker to craft a URL that appears legitimate but leads to an untrusted site. Exploiting this vulnerability requires no authentication but does require user interaction, as the victim must click or be redirected via a crafted link. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 6.1 (medium), reflecting that the attack vector is network-based with low attack complexity, no privileges required, but user interaction is necessary. The impact affects confidentiality and integrity to a limited extent, as the attacker can use the vulnerability to facilitate phishing attacks, steal credentials, or deliver malware by tricking users into visiting malicious sites under the guise of a trusted Airflow login page. There is no indication of known exploits in the wild as of the published date, and no official patch links are provided in the source data, but upgrading to Apache Airflow 2.4.3 or later is recommended to remediate this issue.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be significant, especially for enterprises relying on Apache Airflow for critical data workflows and automation. The open redirect can be leveraged by attackers to conduct targeted phishing campaigns that appear to originate from trusted internal tools, increasing the likelihood of credential theft or malware infection. This can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, disruption of business processes, and potential lateral movement within networks. Since Airflow is often used in data engineering, finance, healthcare, and manufacturing sectors, the compromise of user credentials or the introduction of malware could have cascading effects on data integrity and operational continuity. Furthermore, the vulnerability could undermine trust in internal IT systems and complicate compliance with European data protection regulations such as GDPR if personal data is exposed or mishandled as a result of successful phishing or social engineering attacks facilitated by this flaw.

1. Upgrade Apache Airflow to version 2.4.3 or later, where this open redirect vulnerability has been addressed. 2. Implement strict URL validation and whitelisting on any redirection parameters within the Airflow webserver or any custom plugins/extensions to prevent redirection to untrusted domains. 3. Employ web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules designed to detect and block suspicious redirect patterns targeting the /login endpoint. 4. Conduct user awareness training focused on recognizing phishing attempts, especially those that mimic internal tools like Airflow. 5. Monitor webserver logs for unusual redirect requests or patterns indicative of exploitation attempts. 6. Where possible, restrict access to the Airflow webserver to trusted networks or VPNs to reduce exposure to external attackers. 7. Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) on Airflow accounts to mitigate the risk of credential compromise resulting from phishing. 8. Regularly audit and update security policies related to internal web applications to include checks for open redirect vulnerabilities.