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Findings

CVE-2020-11978

Apache Airflow Command Injection

Published Jul 16, 2020 · updated Jun 16, 2026 · apache airflow

An issue was found in Apache Airflow versions 1.10.10 and below. A remote code/command injection vulnerability was discovered in one of the example DAGs shipped with Airflow which would allow any authenticated user to run arbitrary commands as the user running airflow worker/scheduler (depending on the executor in use). If you already have examples disabled by setting load_examples=False in the config then you are not vulnerable.

Timeline

Detection, updates, and resolution for this record.

  1. Jul 16, 2020 · Catalog

    Detected

    An issue was found in Apache Airflow versions 1.10.10 and below. A remote code/command injection vulnerability was discovered in one of the example DAGs shipped with Airflow which would allow any authenticated user to run arbitrary commands as the user running airflow worker/scheduler (depending on the executor in use). If you already have examples disabled by setting load_examples=False in the co

  2. Jan 18, 2022 · CISA KEV

    Known exploited

    Apply updates per vendor instructions.

  3. Jul 18, 2022 · CISA KEV

    Remediation due

    Apply updates per vendor instructions.

  4. Jun 16, 2026 · Catalog

    Updated

    An issue was found in Apache Airflow versions 1.10.10 and below. A remote code/command injection vulnerability was discovered in one of the example DAGs shipped with Airflow which would allow any authenticated user to run arbitrary commands as the user running airflow worker/scheduler (depending on the executor in use). If you already have examples disabled by setting load_examples=False in the co

Required action

Apply updates per vendor instructions.

CISA due date Jul 18, 2022

Affected

  • cpe apache/airflowversion unspecified
  • vendor Apache Airflowversion unspecified

Sources

  • CISA KEVCVE-2020-11978

    A remote code/command injection vulnerability was discovered in one of the example DAGs shipped with Airflow.

    cisa.gov
  • CVE.orgCVE-2020-11978

    Official CVE identifier

    cve.org
  • FIRST EPSSCVE-2020-11978

    30-day exploitation probability 99.2%

    first.org
  • Exploit Database49927

    Public archive entry. The exploit body is not stored here.

    exploit-db.com
  • Metasploit Modulesexploit_linux/http/apache_airflow_dag_rce

    Public module reference (excellent). Module source is not copied into this catalog.

    rapid7.com
  • NIST NVDCVE-2020-11978

    An issue was found in Apache Airflow versions 1.10.10 and below. A remote code/command injection vulnerability was discovered in one of the example DAGs shipped with Airflow which would allow any authenticated user to run arbitrary commands as the user running airflow worker/sche

    nvd.nist.gov
  • Packet Storm Securityhttp://packetstormsecurity.com/files/162908/Apache-Airflow-1.10.10-Remote-Code-Execution.html

    Packet Storm link already published on the finding.

    packetstormsecurity.com
  • Packet Storm Securityhttp://packetstormsecurity.com/files/174764/Apache-Airflow-1.10.10-Remote-Code-Execution.html

    Packet Storm link already published on the finding.

    packetstormsecurity.com

References