Overview
The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) system has recorded a significant security vulnerability, CVE-2025-30473, which impacts the Apache Airflow Common SQL Provider. This vulnerability is a SQL Injection issue, a common yet severe security flaw that can potentially allow an attacker to compromise the entire system or leak critical data.
This vulnerability specifically affects those using versions of Apache Airflow Common SQL Provider prior to 1.24.1. Given the widespread use of Apache Airflow in managing complex computational workflows and data processing pipelines, the implications of this vulnerability are severe and far-reaching.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-30473
Severity: High (8.8)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: Required
Impact: System compromise or data leakage
Affected Products
No phone number, email, or personal info required.
Product | Affected Versions
Apache Airflow Common SQL Provider | Before 1.24.1
How the Exploit Works
The vulnerability lies in the improper neutralization of special elements used in an SQL command within Apache Airflow’s Common SQL Provider. When using the partition clause in SQLTableCheckOperator as a parameter (which was a recommended pattern), an authenticated UI User could inject arbitrary SQL commands when triggering DAG, exposing the partition_clause to the user. This misuse allows the DAG Triggering user to escalate privileges and execute commands they normally wouldn’t have access to, potentially leading to system compromise or data leakage.
Conceptual Example Code
This is a conceptual example of how the vulnerability might be exploited. An attacker might use a specifically crafted SQL command that manipulates the partition clause in a way that allows them to run arbitrary commands:
POST /triggerDag HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
Content-Type: application/json
{
"partition_clause": "'; DROP TABLE users; --"
}In this hypothetical example, the `partition_clause` normally used for legitimate database operations is misused to inject a `DROP TABLE` command, deleting a critical database table. This is a simplified example, but it illustrates the potential severity of the vulnerability.
Important: Do not attempt to run this code. It is provided for illustrative purposes only.
Recommended Mitigation
The best mitigation strategy for this vulnerability is to upgrade to Apache Airflow Common SQL Provider version 1.24.1 or later, which contains a fix for this issue. If upgrading immediately is not feasible, it is recommended to apply a vendor patch or use a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) as a temporary mitigation measure.