CVE-2023-27524 | Apache Superset: Session validation vulnerability when using provided default SECRET_KEY

Exp

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.

Published: 2023-04-24 Last update: 2026-02-26 Assigner: [email protected] Source: [email protected]
NVD Status：Analyzed，CVE State: published
View at NVD, CVE.org, EUVD

CVE-2023-27524 is rated Critical Active Threat (95.3/100): CVSS High severity, with high exploitation likelihood (EPSS 84.03%, 99th percentile). CISA KEV confirms active exploitation (added 2024-01-08) affecting Apache / Superset. a weakness (CWE-1188) Unauthenticated remote administrative access may be possible. The CISA remediation deadline has passed—treat as an emergency patch priority.

Risk is dynamic; we continuously reassess and refresh what is shown on this page as upstream context changes.

CISA KEV Record for CVE-2023-27524

Name: Apache Superset Insecure Default Initialization of Resource Vulnerability · CISA KEV detail

Exploit added: 2024-01-08

Action due: 2024-01-29

Required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.

Public exploit references (Exploit-DB) for CVE-2023-27524

EDB-ID Source Kind Published Link
51447 exploit_db edb 2023-05-23 Exploit-DB ↗
— nvd_ref exploit_tag Exploit-DB ↗
— nvd_ref exploit_tag Exploit-DB ↗

Exploit prediction scoring system (EPSS) score for CVE-2023-27524

EPSS lead: Daily EPSS estimates relative likelihood of exploitation; percentile ranks this CVE among scored vulnerabilities (higher = more severe relative rank).

# Date Old EPSS score New EPSS score Delta (New - Old)
1 2026-04-30 84.08% 84.03% -0.06%
2 2026-04-21 83.97% 84.08% +0.12%
3 2026-03-24 — 83.97% —

Full EPSS history (80 records total)

Common vulnerability scoring system (CVSS) metrics for CVE-2023-27524

CVSS metrics for this CVE.

Base score Version Severity Vector Exploitability Impact Score source
8.9 3.1 HIGH
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:L Click to expand
Attack vector (AV:N)
Could be attacked over the internet or any normal routed network—not just someone sitting at the machine.
Attack complexity (AC:H)
Even with access, the exploit needs extra luck, timing, or a fussy environment to actually work.
Privileges required (PR:N)
No account or special rights needed—anonymous or random user is enough.
User interaction (UI:N)
Nobody has to click “OK” or open a trap file; it can work without a victim helping.
Scope (S:C)
Breaking this can reach past the original component and bite other resources—bigger blast radius.
Confidentiality (C:H)
Serious risk that confidential data gets exposed in a big way.
Integrity (I:H)
They could widely tamper with or forge data—trust in the data is badly hurt.
Availability (A:L)
Might cause slowdowns, glitches, or partial disruption—not a full brick.
 2.2 6.0 [email protected]
9.8 3.1 CRITICAL
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H Click to expand
Attack vector (AV:N)
Could be attacked over the internet or any normal routed network—not just someone sitting at the machine.
Attack complexity (AC:L)
Once they can reach the bug, pulling it off is straightforward—no weird race conditions or rare setup.
Privileges required (PR:N)
No account or special rights needed—anonymous or random user is enough.
User interaction (UI:N)
Nobody has to click “OK” or open a trap file; it can work without a victim helping.
Scope (S:U)
Damage stays in the same “trust bubble” as the broken component—no big spill into unrelated systems.
Confidentiality (C:H)
Serious risk that confidential data gets exposed in a big way.
Integrity (I:H)
They could widely tamper with or forge data—trust in the data is badly hurt.
Availability (A:H)
Could take the service down hard or make it unusable for people who depend on it.
 3.9 5.9 [email protected]

Weakness enumeration for CVE-2023-27524

GitHub Security Advisory for CVE-2023-27524

GHSA-5cx2-vq3h-x52c · Severity: high · Ecosystem: pip — Apache superset missing check for default SECRET_KEY

Affected software / configurations for CVE-2023-27524

Vendor Product Version Raw CPE
apache superset <= 2.0.1 cpe:2.3:a:apache:superset:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

References for CVE-2023-27524

cvelogic Threat Intelligence