Backend code execution via metastore pickle deserialization
Published Sep 6, 2023 · Updated Feb 13, 2025
Deserialization in Apache Superset 1.5.0 through 2.1.0 allows attackers with metadata-database write access to execute backend code. SupersetMetastoreCache retrieves Explore and dashboard-state values through PickleKeyValueCodec, causing crafted database objects to be unpickled. Access normally requires system-administrator or Superset-process privileges, and resulting code runs in the web backend's security context.
Summary
What happened
Deserialization in Apache Superset 1.5.0 through 2.1.0 allows attackers with metadata-database write access to execute backend code. SupersetMetastoreCache retrieves Explore and dashboard-state values through PickleKeyValueCodec, causing crafted database objects to be unpickled. Access normally requires system-administrator or Superset-process privileges, and resulting code runs in the web backend's security context.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-37941
- Published
- Sep 6, 2023
- Updated
- Feb 13, 2025
- Vendor
- The Apache Software Foundation
- Product
- Apache Superset
- Classifications
- CWE-502, CAPEC-586, T1059.006
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- admin
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Sep 6, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Feb 13, 2025Record 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.
- Affected versionversion=1.5.0 <=2.1.0
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- Apache Superset Signed Cookie RCE Metasploit moduleweaponized · validated
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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