CVE-2020-11978
Confirmed PUBLISHEDAn 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...
Recommended Action
Prioritize remediation. Validate affected assets and apply vendor fixes on an accelerated timeline.
At a Glance
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.
- CVE Published
- Jul 16, 2020
- Exploitation Reported
- Jan 18, 2022
- CVSS
- 8.8 High
- EPSS
- 99.1%
Affected Versions
| Vendor | Product | Version | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apache Software Foundation |
Apache Airflow
|
1.10.10 and below |
Affected |
CVE References
- Apache Mailing List lists.apache.org · CVE Record https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r7255cf0be3566f23a768e2a04b40fb0...
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/162908/Apache-Airflow-1.10.10-Remote-C... packetstormsecurity.com · CVE Record http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/162908/Apache-Airflow-1.10.10-Re...
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/174764/Apache-Airflow-1.10.10-Remote-C... packetstormsecurity.com · CVE Record http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/174764/Apache-Airflow-1.10.10-Re...
Recommended Actions
- Prioritize remediation. Validate affected assets and apply vendor fixes on an accelerated timeline.
- Check enrichment artifacts for scanner coverage and available PoCs before rolling remediation validation.
- Use the Pro API to automate enrichment, telemetry, and workflow delivery for VM, SOC, and CTI pipelines.
Known Exploited Vulnerability Sources
Catalogues that list this CVE as a known exploited vulnerability.
Per-source evidence links for KEV attestations are available through the KEVIntel Pro API.
Learn about Pro API access| Source | Added |
|---|---|
| CISA First | 2022-01-18 00:00 UTC |
| The Shadowserver | 2026-06-01 00:00 UTC |
Scanner Artifacts
Nuclei and Metasploit references linked to this CVE.
| Scanner | Reference | Detected |
|---|---|---|
| Nuclei | https://github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei-templates/blob/main/http/cves/2020/CVE-2020-11978.yaml | Apr 25, 2025 |
| Metasploit | https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/linux/http/apache_airflow_dag_rce.rb | Apr 28, 2025 |
Virtual Patch
Compensating WAF rules to help reduce exposure to this CVE. Rule content and deployable vendor exports are available with KEVIntel Enterprise.
KEVIntel does not currently have a virtual patch for this CVE. When available, KEVIntel virtual patches ship as deployable ModSecurity, Cloudflare, and AWS WAF rules.
Enterprise feature. Virtual patch rule content and deployable vendor exports (ModSecurity, Cloudflare, AWS WAF) are available to KEVIntel Enterprise users.
CVSS Scores
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
AV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:P
Exploitation Status
Exploited in the wild
Recorded 2022-01-18 00:00:00 UTC · CISA
Proof of concept available
Recorded 2021-05-22 15:58:01 UTC · GitHub
Weaknesses (CWE)
-
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
Scanner Integrations
| Scanner | Reference | Detected |
|---|---|---|
| Metasploit | https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/linux/http/apache_airflow_dag_rce.rb | Apr 28, 2025 |
| Nuclei | https://github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei-templates/blob/main/http/cves/2020/CVE-2020-11978.yaml | Apr 25, 2025 |
Potential Proof of Concepts
These PoCs are unverified and could contain malware. Use at your own risk.
github · Created 2021-05-22 15:58:01 UTC · 8 stars
PoC of how to exploit a RCE vulnerability of the example DAGs in Apache Airflow <1.10.11
nuclei · Created Unknown
Timeline
Key exploitation, disclosure, scanner coverage, and KEV attestation events for this CVE.
-
00:00 UTC about 2 months ago00:00 UTC · about 2 months ago
KEV confirmed by The Shadowserver
Exploitation attested by an external source
-
15:02 UTC about 1 year ago15:02 UTC · about 1 year ago
Metasploit module available
Exploit module available
-
00:00 UTC about 1 year ago00:00 UTC · about 1 year ago
Nuclei template available
Scanner coverage available
-
00:00 UTC over 4 years ago00:00 UTC · over 4 years ago
Added to CISA KEV
Listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
-
15:58 UTC about 5 years ago15:58 UTC · about 5 years ago
Public PoC available
Public proof-of-concept code published
-
00:00 UTC about 6 years ago00:00 UTC · about 6 years ago
CVE published
Vulnerability disclosed publicly
-
00:00 UTC about 6 years ago00:00 UTC · about 6 years ago
CVE ID reserved
Identifier reserved by the CNA
Automate This Intelligence with the Pro API
Confidence scoring, exploit status, sensor telemetry, PoCs, scanner integrations, mentions, and tags are available programmatically for VM, SOC, and CTI workflows.
Pro API Example
GET /api/v2/pro/kevs/CVE-2020-11978
{
"cve_id": "CVE-2020-11978",
"title": "An issue was found in Apache Airflow versions 1.10.10 and below. A remote cod...",
"affected_vendor": "Apache Software Foundation",
"affected_product": "Apache Airflow",
"affected_versions": [
{ "vendor": "...", "product": "...", "status": "affected", "display_label": "..." }
],
"confidence": "Confirmed",
"cvss_score": 8.8,
"epss_score": 0.99118,
"exploit_status": {
"exploited_in_the_wild": true,
"active_exploitation_observed": false
},
"sensor_telemetry": { "...": "Pro API fields" },
"proof_of_concepts": [ "..." ],
"scanner_integrations": [ "..." ]
}