External Secrets Operator insecurely retrieves secrets through the getSecretKey templating function
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Attack requirements
- None
- Impact type
- Security bypass
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 1 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 4.0 · CNA. Fix status from CNA, GitHub and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-863.
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.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| external-secrets | external-secrets | 0.20.2 to before 1.2.0 | 1.2.0 | Patch available | CNA |
| — | github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets (Go) | 0.20.2 to before 1.2.0 | 1.2.0 | Patch available | GHSA-77v3-r3jw-j2v2 |
- external-secrets Vendorexternal-secrets Affected 0.20.2 to before 1.2.0 Fixed in 1.2.0 Patch available CNA
- github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets (Go) Vendor— Affected 0.20.2 to before 1.2.0 Fixed in 1.2.0 Patch available GHSA-77v3-r3jw-j2v2
CPE configurations NVD · 1
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:external-secrets:external_secrets_operator:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 0.20.2 to before 1.2.0 | Vulnerable | external-secrets |
- cpe:2.3:a:external-secrets:external_secrets_operator:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.20.2 to before 1.2.0 Vulnerable ·external-secrets
Remediation
- Fix · CNA external-secrets (external-secrets) Fixed in 1.2.0
- Fix · GHSA-77v3-r3jw-j2v2 github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets (Go) Fixed in 1.2.0 Advisory →
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Important. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| external secrets operator for Red Hat OpenShift - Tech Preview | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
Not affected: 1 product
- External Secrets Operator for Red Hat OpenShift
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-22822
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-77v3-r3jw-j2v2
References
Patch 1
Advisory 2
More external-secrets External Secrets Operator vulnerabilities
- TI-2024-30153 External Secrets Operator vulnerable to privilege escalation CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2024-24309 Insecure permissions in external-secrets v0.9.16 allows attackers to access sensitive… CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2026-27206 External Secrets Operator has DNS exfiltration via getHostByName in its v2 template engine CVSS 4.0HIGH 7.1
Sources
- CVE-2026-22822 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-22822 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-77v3-r3jw-j2v2 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-22822 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences