CVE-2023-33234Network attack vector

Code execution via attacker-selected XCom sidecar image

Published May 30, 2023 · Updated Oct 10, 2024

Code injection in Apache Airflow CNCF Kubernetes Provider 5.0.0 through 6.1.0 allows remote authenticated users to execute code. KubernetesPodOperator incorporates an Airflow connection's XCom sidecar image into a task pod without restricting the selected image. Exploitation requires Operator or Administrator permission to modify that connection and a task that enables XCom sidecar creation; execution occurs in the resulting Kubernetes pod.

CVSS severity7.2
High
EPSS probability1.54%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Code injection in Apache Airflow CNCF Kubernetes Provider 5.0.0 through 6.1.0 allows remote authenticated users to execute code. KubernetesPodOperator incorporates an Airflow connection's XCom sidecar image into a task pod without restricting the selected image. Exploitation requires Operator or Administrator permission to modify that connection and a task that enables XCom sidecar creation; execution occurs in the resulting Kubernetes pod.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-33234
Published
May 30, 2023
Updated
Oct 10, 2024
Vendor
The Apache Software Foundation
Product
Apache Airflow CNCF Kubernetes Provider
Classifications
CWE-74, T1610
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 30, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 10, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=5.0.0 <=6.1.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Apache Software Foundation · Apache Airflow CNCF Kubernetes Providerversion=5.0.0 <=6.1.0

Published CVSS scores

7.2GitHub Security Advisory DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-74Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component ('Injection')
T1610Deploy Container

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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