{"id":"CVE-2023-27524","kind":"vulnerability","aliases":["CVE-2023-27524"],"related":[],"title":"Session Validation attacks in Apache Superset versions up to and including 2.0.1","description":"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.\n\nAll 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.\nAdd a strong SECRET_KEY to your `superset_config.py` file like:\n\nSECRET_KEY = <YOUR_OWN_RANDOM_GENERATED_SECRET_KEY>\n\nAlternatively you can set it with `SUPERSET_SECRET_KEY` environment variable.","summary":"Apache Superset ships with a default SECRET_KEY in its install instructions, and installations that kept that default let an attacker forge valid sessions. The attacker can authenticate and reach resources they should not see.","severity":"critical","cvss":9.8,"epss":null,"exploited":true,"exploited_at":"2024-01-08T00:00:00+00:00","products":[{"name":"Apache Superset","fixed":[],"affected":"","ecosystem":"vendor"},{"name":"apache superset","fixed":[],"affected":"<= 2.0.1","ecosystem":"vendor"}],"ecosystems":["vendor"],"tags":["apache-superset","exploited","package","python","self-hosted"],"not_affected_if":["custom-secret-key","managed-hosting"],"how_to_check":"Check superset_config.py or the SUPERSET_SECRET_KEY environment variable and confirm it is not the documented default value.","fix":"Set a unique, long random SECRET_KEY (or SUPERSET_SECRET_KEY) in the deployment config and restart Superset.","status":"open","published_at":"2023-04-24T16:15:07+00:00","first_seen_at":"2026-10-23T19:11:51+00:00","triaged_at":"2026-10-23T21:02:32+00:00","updated_at":"2026-10-23T22:29:05+00:00","category":"package","confidence":0.7,"triage":{"at":"2026-10-23T21:02:32Z","model":"claude-haiku-5-5","output":{"fix":"Set a unique, long random SECRET_KEY (or SUPERSET_SECRET_KEY) in the deployment config and restart Superset.\nunknown","reach":"internet","impact":"high","summary":"Apache Superset ships with a default SECRET_KEY in its install instructions, and installations that kept that default let an attacker forge valid sessions. The attacker can authenticate and reach resources they should not see.","category":"package","who_cares":["apache-superset","self-hosted","python"],"confidence":0.7,"needs_auth":"no","worst_case":"attacker forges sessions and reads unauthorized dashboards and data","analyst_note":"Confirm affected and fixed versions and the exact default key from the Apache advisory (CVE-2023-27524) before writing the fix line.","how_to_check":"Check superset_config.py or the SUPERSET_SECRET_KEY environment variable and confirm it is not the documented default value.\nunknown","needs_analyst":true,"not_affected_if":["custom-secret-key","managed-hosting"],"user_interaction":"no","needs_special_setup":"yes","severity_if_unknown":"high"},"cost_usd":0.000481,"input_tokens":2833,"output_tokens":395,"severity_before":"unknown"},"analyst_status":null,"analyst_note":null,"search":"'-2023':14A,17A '-27524':15A,18A '2.0.1':12A,78C 'access':100C 'accord':89C 'add':149C 'administr':108C 'affect':106C 'allow':93C 'alter':83C 'altern':161C 'alway':123C 'apach':5A,24B,32B,71C 'apache':19A,21A 'apache-superset':23B 'attack':3A,52B,57B,69C,96C 'authent':59B,98C 'chang':111C 'config':118C 'configur':86C 'cooki':141C 'cve':13A,16A 'databas':148C 'default':37B,49B,85C,113C 'encrypt':143C 'environ':170C 'exploit':26B 'file':157C 'forg':53B 'host':31B 'includ':11A,77C 'inform':145C 'instal':42B,45B,79C,91C,121C 'instruct':43B,92C 'kept':47B 'key':39B,88C,117C,130C,133C,153C,160C,169C 'let':50B 'like':158C 'packag':27B 'python':28B 'random':128C 'reach':61B 'resourc':62B,102C 'secret':38B,87C,116C,129C,132C,152C,159C,168C 'secur':127C,137C 'see':66B 'self':30B 'self-host':29B 'sensit':144C 'session':1A,55B,67C,140C 'set':124C,164C 'ship':34B 'sign':138C 'strong':151C 'superset':6A,20A,22A,25B,33B,72C,107C,120C,167C 'superset_config.py':156C 'unauthor':101C 'uniqu':126C 'use':135C 'valid':2A,54B,68C 'valu':114C 'variabl':171C 'version':7A,73C","nicknames":[],"mitigations":[],"who_affected":null,"tier":null,"verified":{},"analyst_revisit_at":null,"first_public_at":"2023-04-24T16:15:07+00:00","kev":{"dateAdded":"2024-01-08","dueDate":"2024-01-29","requiredAction":"Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.","knownRansomwareCampaignUse":"Unknown"},"cvss_vector":"CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:L","cvss_by":"security@apache.org","poc_count":0,"sources":[{"source":"kev","external_id":"CVE-2023-27524","url":"https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2023-27524","severity":null,"published_at":"2024-01-08T00:00:00+00:00","modified_at":null,"first_seen_at":"2026-10-23T19:11:51+00:00","fetched_at":"2026-10-25T11:39:15+00:00","note":null},{"source":"nvd","external_id":"CVE-2023-27524","url":"https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-27524","severity":null,"published_at":"2023-04-24T16:15:07+00:00","modified_at":"2026-06-17T05:45:23+00:00","first_seen_at":"2026-10-23T22:29:05+00:00","fetched_at":"2026-10-23T22:29:05+00:00","note":null}],"documents":[],"notice":"Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai"}