CVE-2023-39441

Apache Airflow SMTP Provider before 1.3.0, Apache Airflow IMAP Provider before 3.3.0, and Apache Airflow before 2.7.0 are affected by the Validation of OpenSSL Certificate vulnerability.

The default SSL context with SSL library did not check a server's X.509 certificate.  Instead, the code accepted any certificate, which could result in the disclosure of mail server credentials or mail contents when the client connects to an attacker in a MITM position.

Users are strongly advised to upgrade to Apache Airflow version 2.7.0 or newer, Apache Airflow IMAP Provider version 3.3.0 or newer, and Apache Airflow SMTP Provider version 1.3.0 or newer to mitigate the risk associated with this vulnerability

CVE-2023-39441 has a CVSS score of 5.9 (Medium). The vector is network-reachable, no privileges required, and no user interaction. A CVSS score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether this affects your application depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable in your environment. A fixed version is available (1.3.0, 3.3.0, 2.7.0); upgrading removes the vulnerable code path.

Kodem intelligence

1. What is CVE-2023-39441? CVE-2023-39441 is a medium-severity security vulnerability in apache-airflow-providers-smtp (pip), affecting versions < 1.3.0. It is fixed in 1.3.0, 3.3.0, 2.7.0.
2. How severe is CVE-2023-39441? CVE-2023-39441 has a CVSS score of 5.9 (Medium). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.
3. Which packages are affected by CVE-2023-39441?
   • apache-airflow-providers-smtp (pip) (versions < 1.3.0)
   • apache-airflow-providers-imap (pip) (versions < 3.3.0)
   • apache-airflow (pip) (versions < 2.7.0)
4. Is there a fix for CVE-2023-39441? Yes. CVE-2023-39441 is fixed in 1.3.0, 3.3.0, 2.7.0. Upgrade to this version or later.
5. Is CVE-2023-39441 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2023-39441 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk. Get a demo
6. What actually determines whether CVE-2023-39441 is exploitable, and how bad it is? Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.
7. How do I fix CVE-2023-39441?
   • Upgrade apache-airflow-providers-smtp to 1.3.0 or later
   • Upgrade apache-airflow-providers-imap to 3.3.0 or later
   • Upgrade apache-airflow to 2.7.0 or later