--- title: "CVE-2020-13927: Apache Airflow vulnerability | CubePath" description: "The previous default setting for Airflow's Experimental API was to allow all API requests without authentication, but this poses security risks to users…" language: en source: https://cubepath.com/security/cve/CVE-2020-13927 --- # CVE-2020-13927: Apache Airflow vulnerability | CubePath ## Description The previous default setting for Airflow's Experimental API was to allow all API requests without authentication, but this poses security risks to users who miss this fact. From Airflow 1.10.11 the default has been changed to deny all requests by default and is documented at https://airflow.apache.org/docs/1.10.11/security.html#api-authentication. Note this change fixes it for new installs but existing users need to change their config to default \`\[api\]auth\_backend = airflow.api.auth.backend.deny\_all\` as mentioned in the Updating Guide: https://github.com/apache/airflow/blob/1.10.11/UPDATING.md#experimental-api-will-deny-all-request-by-default Official description from the CVE record, published by apache. Copyright © 1999-2026 The MITRE Corporation. See [/security/cve/legal](https://cubepath.com/security/cve/legal) for the CVE license. [View the record on cve.org](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-13927) ## Key data ### CVSS 3.1 Critical 9.8 Score published by CISA-ADP in the CVE record. CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H | Metric | Value | What it means | | ---------------------- | --------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Attack vector | Network | The vulnerable component can be reached over a network, possibly from the Internet. | | Attack complexity | Low | No special conditions are needed. The attack can be repeated at will. | | Privileges required | None | No account or privileges are needed. | | User interaction | None | No action from any user is needed. | | Scope | Unchanged | The impact stays within the vulnerable component. | | Confidentiality impact | High | Serious or total effect on the secrecy of data. | | Integrity impact | High | Serious or total effect on the trustworthiness of data. | | Availability impact | High | Serious or total effect on availability. | CVSS is owned and managed by FIRST.Org, Inc. (FIRST) and is used by permission. Each CVSS score on this site is shown together with its vector string, as published in the CVE record by the source named next to it. Learn more at [first.org/cvss](https://www.first.org/cvss/) . ### EPSS Exploit Prediction Scoring System by FIRST: an estimate of the probability that exploitation activity will be observed in the next 30 days. Score 0.99778 (99.8% probability) Percentile 99.95% Scores of Nov 10, 2026 Model v2026.06.15 ### CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities This CVE is listed in the CISA KEV catalog. Name in the catalog Apache Airflow's Experimental API Authentication Bypass Added to the catalog Jan 18, 2022 Federal due date Jul 18, 2022 ### CISA assessment as of Jul 24, 2024 Stakeholder-Specific Vulnerability Categorization (SSVC) decision points added by CISA. Exploitation Recorded by CISA as active Automatable yes Technical impact total ### Weakness (CWE) CWE catalog version 5.0. CWE names: Copyright © 2006-2026, The MITRE Corporation. See [/security/cve/legal](https://cubepath.com/security/cve/legal) for the CWE license. - [CWE-306](https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/306.html) Missing Authentication for Critical Functionality - [CWE-1188](https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/1188.html) Initialization of a Resource with an Insecure Default - [CWE-1056](https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/1056.html) Invokable Control Element with Variadic Parameters ## Affected products Products listed in the CVE record, as the CNA published them. - Apache Airflow - affected: Apache Airflow <1.10.11 ## References Links listed in the CVE record. They lead to other sites, which CubePath does not control. - [lists.apache.org/thread.html/r23a81b247aa346ff193670be565b2…](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r23a81b247aa346ff193670be565b2b8ea4b17ddbc7a35fc099c1aadd%40%3Cdev.airflow.apache.org%3E) - [packetstormsecurity.com/files/162908/Apache-Airflow-1.10.10…](http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/162908/Apache-Airflow-1.10.10-Remote-Code-Execution.html) - [packetstormsecurity.com/files/174764/Apache-Airflow-1.10.10…](http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/174764/Apache-Airflow-1.10.10-Remote-Code-Execution.html) ## Timeline 1. ID reserved Jun 8, 2020 2. Record published Nov 10, 2020 3. Added to CISA KEV Jan 18, 2022 4. Record last updated Oct 21, 2025 ## Look up another CVE ## About CubePath CubePath is a cloud provider with data centers in Europe and the United States. It offers VPS, bare metal servers and DDoS protection. [Cloud VPS](https://cubepath.com/vps) [DDoS protection](https://cubepath.com/ddos-protection) Data from the CVE Program (MITRE), CISA KEV and FIRST EPSS. CVSS is owned by FIRST and used by permission. Not affiliated with or endorsed by MITRE, CISA or FIRST. Data as of Nov 10, 2026, 19:34 UTC. [Sources and licenses](https://cubepath.com/security/cve/legal)