# CVE-2023-22884: Apache Airflow, Apache Airflow MySQL Provider: Arbitrary file read via MySQL provider in Apache Airflow

> Attackers can exploit command injection in the MySQL provider to read arbitrary files or execute code, requiring an upgrade to secure Apache Airflow deployments.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 21 Jan 2023
- **Updated:** 31 Mar 2025
- **Also known as:** BIT-airflow-2023-22884, GHSA-c732-xvv8-g94c, PYSEC-2026-268, PYSEC-2026-279, ROOT-APP-PYPI-CVE-2023-22884

## What is CVE-2023-22884?

CVE-2023-22884 is a critical command injection vulnerability in Apache Airflow, published on 21 Jan 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection') vulnerability in Apache Software Foundation Apache Airflow, Apache Software Foundation Apache Airflow MySQL Provider.This issue affects Apache Airflow: before 2.5.1; Apache Airflow MySQL Provider: before 4.0.0.

Weakness: CWE-77 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-22884?

7 open source packages ship an affected version, including apache-airflow, airflow and apache-airflow-providers-mysql. It affects 2 products.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `apache-airflow` | PyPI | All versions | 2.5.1 |
| `apache-airflow` | PyPI | All versions | 2.5.1 |
| `apache-airflow` | PyPI | All versions | 2.5.1 |
| `airflow` | Bitnami | All versions | 2.5.1 |
| `apache-airflow-providers-mysql` | PyPI | All versions | 4.0.0 |
| `apache-airflow-providers-mysql` | PyPI | All versions | 4.0.0 |
| `apache-airflow-providers-mysql` | PyPI | All versions | 4.0.0 |

Products: Apache Airflow, Apache Apache-Airflow-Providers-Mysql.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-22884?

Upgrade apache-airflow to 2.5.1 or later.

## Is CVE-2023-22884 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-22884 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Public exploit code:

- CVE-2023-22884 PoC (github_poc): https://github.com/jakabakos/CVE-2023-22884-Airflow-SQLi

## Other vulnerabilities in Apache Airflow

- [CVE-2020-13927](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-13927/): Apache Airflow's Experimental API Authentication Bypass (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2020-11978](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-11978/): Apache Airflow Command Injection (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-33264](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-33264/): Apache Airflow: DAG author RCE on webserver via unrestricted import_string() in BaseSerialization.deserialize() (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2023-25754](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-25754/): Apache Airflow: Privilege escalation using airflow logs (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2022-38649](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-38649/): Apache Airflow Pinot provider allowed Command Injection (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-22884 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-22884 is a critical command injection vulnerability in Apache Airflow, published on 21 Jan 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-22884 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- apache-airflow (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 2.5.1
- apache-airflow (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 2.5.1
- apache-airflow (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 2.5.1
- airflow (Bitnami): affected all versions; fixed in 2.5.1
- apache-airflow-providers-mysql (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 4.0.0
- apache-airflow-providers-mysql (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 4.0.0
- apache-airflow-providers-mysql (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 4.0.0

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-22884/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-22884/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-22884
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-22884
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-22884

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-22884/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.