Critical Apache Airflow Vulnerabilities Expose Sensitive Data
Apache Airflow, a widely used open-source platform for orchestrating complex workflows, has recently been found to contain multiple vulnerabilities that could lead to the exposure of sensitive authentication credentials and secrets. These issues, identified in versions prior to 3.1.6, stem from inadequate masking of sensitive data during rendering and logging operations, potentially compromising proxy credentials and database secrets in production environments.
Proxy Credentials Leak in Task Logs
The first vulnerability, designated as CVE-2025-68675, affects all versions of Apache Airflow before 3.1.6. This flaw resides in how Airflow handles proxy configurations within Connection objects. Proxy URLs often contain embedded authentication credentials in the format `http://username:password@proxy-host:port`. However, the proxy fields were not marked as sensitive, preventing Airflow’s automatic log masking from obfuscating these credentials when connections are rendered or logged during task execution.
This oversight creates a significant exposure vector because task logs are frequently accessed by multiple team members, stored in centralized logging systems, and archived for compliance purposes. An attacker or unauthorized user with read access to logs could extract proxy credentials and leverage them to intercept or redirect network traffic from affected workflows. Organizations running tasks that utilize proxy-authenticated connections face a heightened risk of credential compromise.
Secrets Exposure in User Interface
The second vulnerability, CVE-2025-68438, introduces a different but equally problematic exposure path. When rendered template fields exceed the configured `[core] max_templated_field_length` threshold, the serialization process uses a secrets masker instance that lacks user-registered `mask_secret()` patterns. This means that custom-registered secret patterns are not applied before field truncation and are displayed in the Rendered Templates UI.
Consequently, sensitive values stored in templated fields, such as API keys, database passwords, or encrypted tokens, may appear in cleartext in the web interface. The truncation operation occurs after serialization but before masking completion, exposing portions of secrets to any user with access to the Airflow web UI.
Both vulnerabilities require authentication to the Airflow environment but also represent insider threats and lateral movement risks. Organizations with strict log retention policies face extended exposure windows, as leaked credentials may remain accessible in archived logs indefinitely.
Mitigation and Recommendations
Apache Airflow version 3.1.6 addresses both issues by properly designating proxy fields as sensitive and ensuring user-registered mask patterns apply before template truncation. All affected users should upgrade immediately to mitigate these vulnerabilities. For environments unable to upgrade promptly, implementing restrictive access controls on log systems and the Airflow web UI provides temporary mitigation.
In addition to upgrading, organizations should consider the following best practices to enhance security:
– Review and Audit Logs: Regularly review task logs to identify and redact any sensitive information that may have been inadvertently logged.
– Implement Strict Access Controls: Limit access to the Airflow web UI and logs to only those personnel who require it for their roles.
– Use Environment Variables for Sensitive Data: Store sensitive credentials in environment variables rather than hardcoding them into DAGs or connection objects.
– Regularly Rotate Credentials: Implement a policy for regular rotation of credentials to minimize the impact of any potential exposure.
By taking these steps, organizations can reduce the risk associated with these vulnerabilities and enhance the overall security posture of their Apache Airflow deployments.
