CVE-2026-22822 (GCVE-0-2026-22822)

Vulnerability from cvelistv5 – Published: 2026-01-21 21:22 – Updated: 2026-01-21 21:22
VLAI?
Title
External Secrets Operator insecurely retrieves secrets through the getSecretKey templating function
Summary
External Secrets Operator reads information from a third-party service and automatically injects the values as Kubernetes Secrets. Starting in version 0.20.2 and prior to version 1.2.0, the `getSecretKey` template function, while introduced for senhasegura Devops Secrets Management (DSM) provider, has the ability to fetch secrets cross-namespaces with the roleBinding of the external-secrets controller, bypassing our security mechanisms. This function was completely removed in version 1.2.0, as everything done with that templating function can be done in a different way while respecting External Secrets Operator's safeguards As a workaround, use a policy engine such as Kubernetes, Kyverno, Kubewarden, or OPA to prevent the usage of `getSecretKey` in any ExternalSecret resource.
Severity ?
9.3 (Critical)
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H
CWE
  • CWE-863 - Incorrect Authorization
Assigner
References
Impacted products
Vendor Product Version
external-secrets external-secrets Affected: >= 0.20.2, < 1.2.0
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{
  "containers": {
    "cna": {
      "affected": [
        {
          "product": "external-secrets",
          "vendor": "external-secrets",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "\u003e= 0.20.2, \u003c 1.2.0"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "descriptions": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "External Secrets Operator reads information from a third-party service and automatically injects the values as Kubernetes Secrets.  Starting in version 0.20.2 and prior to version 1.2.0, the `getSecretKey` template function, while introduced for senhasegura Devops Secrets Management (DSM) provider, has the ability to fetch secrets cross-namespaces with the roleBinding of the external-secrets controller, bypassing our security mechanisms. This function was completely removed in version 1.2.0, as everything done with that templating function can be done in a different way while respecting External Secrets Operator\u0027s safeguards As a workaround, use a policy engine such as Kubernetes, Kyverno, Kubewarden, or OPA to prevent the usage of `getSecretKey` in any ExternalSecret resource."
        }
      ],
      "metrics": [
        {
          "cvssV4_0": {
            "attackComplexity": "LOW",
            "attackRequirements": "NONE",
            "attackVector": "LOCAL",
            "baseScore": 9.3,
            "baseSeverity": "CRITICAL",
            "privilegesRequired": "LOW",
            "subAvailabilityImpact": "HIGH",
            "subConfidentialityImpact": "HIGH",
            "subIntegrityImpact": "HIGH",
            "userInteraction": "NONE",
            "vectorString": "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H",
            "version": "4.0",
            "vulnAvailabilityImpact": "HIGH",
            "vulnConfidentialityImpact": "HIGH",
            "vulnIntegrityImpact": "HIGH"
          }
        }
      ],
      "problemTypes": [
        {
          "descriptions": [
            {
              "cweId": "CWE-863",
              "description": "CWE-863: Incorrect Authorization",
              "lang": "en",
              "type": "CWE"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "providerMetadata": {
        "dateUpdated": "2026-01-21T21:22:05.249Z",
        "orgId": "a0819718-46f1-4df5-94e2-005712e83aaa",
        "shortName": "GitHub_M"
      },
      "references": [
        {
          "name": "https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/security/advisories/GHSA-77v3-r3jw-j2v2",
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_CONFIRM"
          ],
          "url": "https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/security/advisories/GHSA-77v3-r3jw-j2v2"
        },
        {
          "name": "https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/issues/5690",
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_MISC"
          ],
          "url": "https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/issues/5690"
        },
        {
          "name": "https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/pull/3895",
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_MISC"
          ],
          "url": "https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/pull/3895"
        },
        {
          "name": "https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/commit/17d3e22b8d3fbe339faf8515a95ec06ec92b1feb",
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_MISC"
          ],
          "url": "https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/commit/17d3e22b8d3fbe339faf8515a95ec06ec92b1feb"
        },
        {
          "name": "https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/releases/tag/v1.2.0",
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_MISC"
          ],
          "url": "https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/releases/tag/v1.2.0"
        }
      ],
      "source": {
        "advisory": "GHSA-77v3-r3jw-j2v2",
        "discovery": "UNKNOWN"
      },
      "title": "External Secrets Operator insecurely retrieves secrets through the getSecretKey templating function"
    }
  },
  "cveMetadata": {
    "assignerOrgId": "a0819718-46f1-4df5-94e2-005712e83aaa",
    "assignerShortName": "GitHub_M",
    "cveId": "CVE-2026-22822",
    "datePublished": "2026-01-21T21:22:05.249Z",
    "dateReserved": "2026-01-09T22:50:10.289Z",
    "dateUpdated": "2026-01-21T21:22:05.249Z",
    "state": "PUBLISHED"
  },
  "dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
  "dataVersion": "5.2",
  "vulnerability-lookup:meta": {
    "nvd": "{\"cve\":{\"id\":\"CVE-2026-22822\",\"sourceIdentifier\":\"security-advisories@github.com\",\"published\":\"2026-01-21T22:15:49.380\",\"lastModified\":\"2026-01-21T22:15:49.380\",\"vulnStatus\":\"Received\",\"cveTags\":[],\"descriptions\":[{\"lang\":\"en\",\"value\":\"External Secrets Operator reads information from a third-party service and automatically injects the values as Kubernetes Secrets.  Starting in version 0.20.2 and prior to version 1.2.0, the `getSecretKey` template function, while introduced for senhasegura Devops Secrets Management (DSM) provider, has the ability to fetch secrets cross-namespaces with the roleBinding of the external-secrets controller, bypassing our security mechanisms. This function was completely removed in version 1.2.0, as everything done with that templating function can be done in a different way while respecting External Secrets Operator\u0027s safeguards As a workaround, use a policy engine such as Kubernetes, Kyverno, Kubewarden, or OPA to prevent the usage of `getSecretKey` in any ExternalSecret resource.\"}],\"metrics\":{\"cvssMetricV40\":[{\"source\":\"security-advisories@github.com\",\"type\":\"Secondary\",\"cvssData\":{\"version\":\"4.0\",\"vectorString\":\"CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X\",\"baseScore\":9.3,\"baseSeverity\":\"CRITICAL\",\"attackVector\":\"LOCAL\",\"attackComplexity\":\"LOW\",\"attackRequirements\":\"NONE\",\"privilegesRequired\":\"LOW\",\"userInteraction\":\"NONE\",\"vulnConfidentialityImpact\":\"HIGH\",\"vulnIntegrityImpact\":\"HIGH\",\"vulnAvailabilityImpact\":\"HIGH\",\"subConfidentialityImpact\":\"HIGH\",\"subIntegrityImpact\":\"HIGH\",\"subAvailabilityImpact\":\"HIGH\",\"exploitMaturity\":\"NOT_DEFINED\",\"confidentialityRequirement\":\"NOT_DEFINED\",\"integrityRequirement\":\"NOT_DEFINED\",\"availabilityRequirement\":\"NOT_DEFINED\",\"modifiedAttackVector\":\"NOT_DEFINED\",\"modifiedAttackComplexity\":\"NOT_DEFINED\",\"modifiedAttackRequirements\":\"NOT_DEFINED\",\"modifiedPrivilegesRequired\":\"NOT_DEFINED\",\"modifiedUserInteraction\":\"NOT_DEFINED\",\"modifiedVulnConfidentialityImpact\":\"NOT_DEFINED\",\"modifiedVulnIntegrityImpact\":\"NOT_DEFINED\",\"modifiedVulnAvailabilityImpact\":\"NOT_DEFINED\",\"modifiedSubConfidentialityImpact\":\"NOT_DEFINED\",\"modifiedSubIntegrityImpact\":\"NOT_DEFINED\",\"modifiedSubAvailabilityImpact\":\"NOT_DEFINED\",\"Safety\":\"NOT_DEFINED\",\"Automatable\":\"NOT_DEFINED\",\"Recovery\":\"NOT_DEFINED\",\"valueDensity\":\"NOT_DEFINED\",\"vulnerabilityResponseEffort\":\"NOT_DEFINED\",\"providerUrgency\":\"NOT_DEFINED\"}}]},\"weaknesses\":[{\"source\":\"security-advisories@github.com\",\"type\":\"Primary\",\"description\":[{\"lang\":\"en\",\"value\":\"CWE-863\"}]}],\"references\":[{\"url\":\"https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/commit/17d3e22b8d3fbe339faf8515a95ec06ec92b1feb\",\"source\":\"security-advisories@github.com\"},{\"url\":\"https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/issues/5690\",\"source\":\"security-advisories@github.com\"},{\"url\":\"https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/pull/3895\",\"source\":\"security-advisories@github.com\"},{\"url\":\"https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/releases/tag/v1.2.0\",\"source\":\"security-advisories@github.com\"},{\"url\":\"https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/security/advisories/GHSA-77v3-r3jw-j2v2\",\"source\":\"security-advisories@github.com\"}]}}"
  }
}


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  • Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or observed by the user.
  • Confirmed: The vulnerability has been validated from an analyst's perspective.
  • Published Proof of Concept: A public proof of concept is available for this vulnerability.
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  • Patched: The vulnerability was observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Not exploited: The vulnerability was not observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Not confirmed: The user expressed doubt about the validity of the vulnerability.
  • Not patched: The vulnerability was not observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.



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