Apache · Superset
CVE-2023-27524
Apache Superset: Session validation vulnerability when using provided default SECRET_KEY
What it is
Session Validation attacks in Apache Superset versions up to and including 2.0.1. Installations that have not altered the default configured SECRET_KEY according to installation instructions allow for an attacker to authenticate and access unauthorized resources. This does not affect Superset administrators who have changed the default value for SECRET_KEY config.
All superset installations should always set a unique secure random SECRET_KEY. Your SECRET_KEY is used to securely sign all session cookies and encrypting sensitive information on the database.
Add a strong SECRET_KEY to your `superset_config.py` file like:
SECRET_KEY = <YOUR_OWN_RANDOM_GENERATED_SECRET_KEY>
Alternatively you can set it with `SUPERSET_SECRET_KEY` environment variable.
CISA: Apache Superset contains an insecure default initialization of a resource vulnerability that allows an attacker to authenticate and access unauthorized resources on installations that have not altered the default configured SECRET_KEY according to installation instructions.
What to do
Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
Deadline for US federal agencies: January 29, 2024
- Added to the CISA list
- January 8, 2024
- Published
- April 24, 2023
- Severity
- High 8.9 CVSS 3.1
- Chance of attacks in the next 30 days (EPSS)
- 98% in the top 0.1% of all known vulnerabilities
- Weakness
- CWE-1188
- More details
- NVD · CVE.org · CISA
All references (4)
- https://lists.apache.org/thread/n0ftx60sllf527j7g11kmt24wvof8xyk
- https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/04/24/2
- https://packetstormsecurity.com/files/172522/Apache-Superset-2.0.0-Authentication-Bypass.html
- https://packetstormsecurity.com/files/175094/Apache-Superset-2.0.0-Remote-Code-Execution.html
More exploited flaws from Apache
| Added | Vulnerability | Product | Severity | Attack chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 8, 2026 | Command Injection | Struts | High 8.1 | 97% |
| Aug 4, 2026 | Missing Encryption of Sensitive Data | Tomcat | High 7.5 | 99% |
| Apr 16, 2026 | Improper Input Validation | ActiveMQ | High 8.8 | 98% |
| May 1, 2025 | Improper Escaping of Output | HTTP Server | Critical 9.1 | >99.9% |
| Apr 1, 2025 | Path Equivalence | Tomcat | Critical 10.0 | 99.9% |
| Feb 4, 2025 | Forced Browsing | OFBiz | Critical 9.8 | >99.9% |
| Sep 18, 2024 | Improper Access Control | HugeGraph-Server | Critical 9.8 | 99.2% |
| Aug 27, 2024 | Incorrect Authorization | OFBiz | High 8.1 | 99.4% |
Sources: Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (CISA, public domain), CVE records (cve.org) and EPSS (FIRST). The chance of attacks is the EPSS estimate that someone will try to exploit the flaw in the next 30 days.