« Back to list

CVE-2026-22822

Status: ModifiedCritical (9.3)—

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.

Read full descriptionShow less

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.

CVSS

Exploitation probability (EPSS)

EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System, FIRST) estimates how likely a vulnerability is to be exploited in the wild within 30 days. It complements CVSS (impact) and CISA KEV (confirmed exploitation).

🎯 ATT&CK techniques

How this vulnerability is exploited and what the attacker gains, in MITRE ATT&CK terms.

Acceso local con privilegios (AV:L, PR:L) permite escalada mediante función getSecretKey para leer secretos entre espacios de nombres, bypassing RBAC controls.

Inferred by our analysis agent from the official description, CVSS vector and CWE, and checked by a supervisor. May contain errors.

🛡️ ATT&CK mitigations that cover these techniques

Application Developer GuidanceActive Directory ConfigurationUser TrainingUser Account ManagementThreat Intelligence ProgramPrivileged Account Management

Affected technologies (1)

External-secrets — External Secrets Operator

CWEs

References

Raw JSON (NVD)

Show
{
  "id": "CVE-2026-22822",
  "cveTags": [],
  "metrics": {
    "ssvcV203": [
      {
        "source": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
        "ssvcData": {
          "id": "CVE-2026-22822",
          "role": "CISA Coordinator",
          "options": [
            {
              "exploitation": "none"
            },
            {
              "automatable": "no"
            },
            {
              "technicalImpact": "total"
            }
          ],
          "version": "2.0.3",
          "timestamp": "2026-01-22T15:10:57.677512Z"
        }
      }
    ],
    "cvssMetricV31": [
      {
        "type": "Primary",
        "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
        "cvssData": {
          "scope": "CHANGED",
          "version": "3.1",
          "baseScore": 8.8,
          "attackVector": "LOCAL",
          "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
          "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H",
          "integrityImpact": "HIGH",
          "userInteraction": "NONE",
          "attackComplexity": "LOW",
          "availabilityImpact": "HIGH",
          "privilegesRequired": "LOW",
          "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH"
        },
        "impactScore": 6,
        "exploitabilityScore": 2
      },
      {
        "type": "Secondary",
        "source": "0b0ca135-0b70-47e7-9f44-1890c2a1c46c",
        "cvssData": {
          "scope": "CHANGED",
          "version": "3.1",
          "baseScore": 8.8,
          "attackVector": "LOCAL",
          "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
          "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H",
          "integrityImpact": "HIGH",
          "userInteraction": "NONE",
          "attackComplexity": "LOW",
          "availabilityImpact": "HIGH",
          "privilegesRequired": "LOW",
          "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH"
        },
        "impactScore": 6,
        "exploitabilityScore": 2
      }
    ],
    "cvssMetricV40": [
      {
        "type": "Secondary",
        "source": "security-advisories@github.com",
        "cvssData": {
          "Safety": "NOT_DEFINED",
          "version": "4.0",
          "Recovery": "NOT_DEFINED",
          "baseScore": 9.3,
          "Automatable": "NOT_DEFINED",
          "attackVector": "LOCAL",
          "baseSeverity": "CRITICAL",
          "valueDensity": "NOT_DEFINED",
          "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",
          "exploitMaturity": "NOT_DEFINED",
          "providerUrgency": "NOT_DEFINED",
          "userInteraction": "NONE",
          "attackComplexity": "LOW",
          "attackRequirements": "NONE",
          "privilegesRequired": "LOW",
          "subIntegrityImpact": "HIGH",
          "vulnIntegrityImpact": "HIGH",
          "integrityRequirement": "NOT_DEFINED",
          "modifiedAttackVector": "NOT_DEFINED",
          "subAvailabilityImpact": "HIGH",
          "vulnAvailabilityImpact": "HIGH",
          "availabilityRequirement": "NOT_DEFINED",
          "modifiedUserInteraction": "NOT_DEFINED",
          "modifiedAttackComplexity": "NOT_DEFINED",
          "subConfidentialityImpact": "HIGH",
          "vulnConfidentialityImpact": "HIGH",
          "confidentialityRequirement": "NOT_DEFINED",
          "modifiedAttackRequirements": "NOT_DEFINED",
          "modifiedPrivilegesRequired": "NOT_DEFINED",
          "modifiedSubIntegrityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED",
          "modifiedVulnIntegrityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED",
          "vulnerabilityResponseEffort": "NOT_DEFINED",
          "modifiedSubAvailabilityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED",
          "modifiedVulnAvailabilityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED",
          "modifiedSubConfidentialityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED",
          "modifiedVulnConfidentialityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED"
        }
      }
    ]
  },
  "affected": [
    {
      "source": "security-advisories@github.com",
      "affectedData": [
        {
          "vendor": "external-secrets",
          "product": "external-secrets",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": ">= 0.20.2, < 1.2.0"
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "source": "0b0ca135-0b70-47e7-9f44-1890c2a1c46c",
      "affectedData": [
        {
          "cpes": [
            "cpe:/a:redhat:external_secrets_operator:1"
          ],
          "vendor": "Red Hat",
          "product": "External Secrets Operator for Red Hat OpenShift",
          "packageName": "external-secrets-operator/bitwarden-sdk-server-rhel9",
          "collectionURL": "https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/",
          "defaultStatus": "unaffected"
        },
        {
          "cpes": [
            "cpe:/a:redhat:external_secrets_operator:1"
          ],
          "vendor": "Red Hat",
          "product": "External Secrets Operator for Red Hat OpenShift",
          "packageName": "external-secrets-operator/external-secrets-operator-bundle",
          "collectionURL": "https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/",
          "defaultStatus": "unaffected"
        },
        {
          "cpes": [
            "cpe:/a:redhat:external_secrets_operator:1"
          ],
          "vendor": "Red Hat",
          "product": "External Secrets Operator for Red Hat OpenShift",
          "packageName": "external-secrets-operator/external-secrets-operator-rhel9",
          "collectionURL": "https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/",
          "defaultStatus": "unaffected"
        },
        {
          "cpes": [
            "cpe:/a:redhat:external_secrets_operator:1"
          ],
          "vendor": "Red Hat",
          "product": "External Secrets Operator for Red Hat OpenShift",
          "packageName": "external-secrets-operator/external-secrets-rhel9",
          "collectionURL": "https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/",
          "defaultStatus": "unaffected"
        },
        {
          "cpes": [
            "cpe:/a:redhat:external_secrets_operator:0"
          ],
          "vendor": "Red Hat",
          "product": "external secrets operator for Red Hat OpenShift - Tech Preview",
          "packageName": "external-secrets-operator/bitwarden-sdk-server-rhel9",
          "collectionURL": "https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/",
          "defaultStatus": "affected"
        },
        {
          "cpes": [
            "cpe:/a:redhat:external_secrets_operator:0"
          ],
          "vendor": "Red Hat",
          "product": "external secrets operator for Red Hat OpenShift - Tech Preview",
          "packageName": "external-secrets-operator/external-secrets-operator-bundle",
          "collectionURL": "https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/",
          "defaultStatus": "affected"
        },
        {
          "cpes": [
            "cpe:/a:redhat:external_secrets_operator:0"
          ],
          "vendor": "Red Hat",
          "product": "external secrets operator for Red Hat OpenShift - Tech Preview",
          "packageName": "external-secrets-operator/external-secrets-operator-rhel9",
          "collectionURL": "https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/",
          "defaultStatus": "affected"
        },
        {
          "cpes": [
            "cpe:/a:redhat:external_secrets_operator:0"
          ],
          "vendor": "Red Hat",
          "product": "external secrets operator for Red Hat OpenShift - Tech Preview",
          "packageName": "external-secrets-operator/external-secrets-rhel9",
          "collectionURL": "https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/",
          "defaultStatus": "affected"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "published": "2026-01-21T22:15:49.380",
  "references": [
    {
      "url": "https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/commit/17d3e22b8d3fbe339faf8515a95ec06ec92b1feb",
      "tags": [
        "Patch"
      ],
      "source": "security-advisories@github.com"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/issues/5690",
      "tags": [
        "Issue Tracking"
      ],
      "source": "security-advisories@github.com"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/pull/3895",
      "tags": [
        "Issue Tracking"
      ],
      "source": "security-advisories@github.com"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/releases/tag/v1.2.0",
      "tags": [
        "Product",
        "Release Notes"
      ],
      "source": "security-advisories@github.com"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/security/advisories/GHSA-77v3-r3jw-j2v2",
      "tags": [
        "Vendor Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "security-advisories@github.com"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-22822",
      "source": "0b0ca135-0b70-47e7-9f44-1890c2a1c46c"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2431873",
      "source": "0b0ca135-0b70-47e7-9f44-1890c2a1c46c"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-22822.json",
      "source": "0b0ca135-0b70-47e7-9f44-1890c2a1c46c"
    }
  ],
  "vulnStatus": "Modified",
  "weaknesses": [
    {
      "type": "Secondary",
      "source": "security-advisories@github.com",
      "description": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "CWE-863"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "type": "Secondary",
      "source": "0b0ca135-0b70-47e7-9f44-1890c2a1c46c",
      "description": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "CWE-863"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "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'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."
    },
    {
      "lang": "es",
      "value": "External Secrets Operator lee información de un servicio de terceros e inyecta automáticamente los valores como Secrets de Kubernetes. A partir de la versión 0.20.2 y antes de la versión 1.2.0, la función de plantilla 'getSecretKey', aunque introducida para el proveedor senhasegura Devops Secrets Management (DSM), tiene la capacidad de obtener secretos entre espacios de nombres con el roleBinding del controlador external-secrets, eludiendo nuestros mecanismos de seguridad. Esta función fue completamente eliminada en la versión 1.2.0, ya que todo lo que se hacía con esa función de plantilla se puede hacer de una manera diferente respetando las salvaguardas de External Secrets Operator. Como solución alternativa, utilice un motor de políticas como Kubernetes, Kyverno, Kubewarden u OPA para evitar el uso de 'getSecretKey' en cualquier recurso ExternalSecret."
    }
  ],
  "lastModified": "2026-07-15T02:18:37.703",
  "configurations": [
    {
      "nodes": [
        {
          "negate": false,
          "cpeMatch": [
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:external-secrets:external_secrets_operator:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "F9E0E951-2317-45FB-A1AD-7426EFBBA6E3",
              "versionEndExcluding": "1.2.0",
              "versionStartIncluding": "0.20.2"
            }
          ],
          "operator": "OR"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sourceIdentifier": "security-advisories@github.com"
}