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.den
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
Why this VPI (explainable, experimental)
VPI breakdown
| Impact | 98.00 |
| Exploitation signal(KEV listed) | ×1.50 |
| VPI | 100.00 |
VPI formula vpi-v1
Required Action
Apply updates per vendor instructions.
| Source | CVSS Version | Base Score | Severity | Vector String | Assessment Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OSV3rd | 3.1 | 9.8 | CRITICAL | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:H | 04/21/2026 |
| NVDNIST | 3.1 | 9.8 |
| CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
| 04/20/2026 |
| NVDNIST | 2.0 | 7.5 | HIGH | AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P | 04/20/2026 |