Argo CD Kustomize Helm config lets repository files run commands
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-829.
Summary
Argo CD versions from 2.1.0 before 3.3.15, from 3.4.0-rc1 before 3.4.10, from 3.5.0-rc1 before 3.5.4, and from 3.6.0-rc1 before 3.6.0-rc2 are affected. When operators enable --enable-helm, a repository-controlled helmGlobals.configHome makes Helm run a downloader plugin inside argocd-repo-server (CWE-829). An attacker who can commit to a repository an Application builds, or who has Application get permission, can run commands as the repo-server user and read repository credentials.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-28
Description from the CNA
Argo CD is a declarative, GitOps continuous delivery tool for Kubernetes. From 2.1.0 until 3.3.15, 3.4.10, 3.5.4, and 3.6.0-rc2, when an operator has enabled --enable-helm for kustomize build, helmGlobals.configHome can point Helm's config and data directories at a repository-controlled location. Helm automatically loads a downloader plugin from `<configHome>/.data/plugins` without a separate plugin-install step and executes its program inside argocd-repo-server when a helmCharts repository URL uses the plugin's protocol. The command runs as the repo-server user and can read repository credentials and other process-accessible data. An attacker can commit the Kustomization and plugin to a Git repository that an Application builds or upload the files through POST /api/v1/applications/manifestsWithFiles, also exposed by argocd app diff --local --server-side-generate. The upload path requires only Application get permission on an existing Application, without Application update or sync permission or repository write access. Both delivery paths require prior operator enablement of --enable-helm; deployments that do not enable it are not affected. Kustomize 4.1.0 first passed helmGlobals.configHome through to Helm. This issue is fixed in versions 3.3.15, 3.4.10, 3.5.4, and 3.6.0-rc2.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| argoproj | argo-cd | 2.1.0 to before 3.3.15; 3.4.0-rc1 to before 3.4.10; 3.5.0-rc1 to before 3.5.4; 3.6.0-rc1 to before 3.6.0-rc2 | 3.3.15, 3.4.10, 3.5.4, 3.6.0-rc2 | Patch available | CNA |
- argo-cd Vendorargoproj Affected 2.1.0 to before 3.3.15; 3.4.0-rc1 to before 3.4.10; 3.5.0-rc1 to before 3.5.4; 3.6.0-rc1 to before 3.6.0-rc2 Fixed in 3.3.15, 3.4.10, 3.5.4, 3.6.0-rc2 Patch available CNA
Remediation
Upgrade Argo CD to version 3.3.15, 3.4.10, 3.5.4, or 3.6.0-rc2, which fix the issue. Deployments that do not enable --enable-helm are not affected.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-28
- Fix · CNA argo-cd (argoproj) Fixed in 3.3.15, 3.4.10, 3.5.4, 3.6.0-rc2
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Important. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
Not affected: 2 products
- Red Hat OpenShift GitOps
- Red Hat Openshift Data Foundation 4
Timeline
- 2026-10-20 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-113709
- 2026-10-21 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-21 CVSS score added · Red Hat
- 2026-10-21 CISA SSVC decision points changed
References
Other 10
- https://github.com/argoproj/argo-cd/security/advisories/GHSA-fw5c-w8rc-j7fx
- https://github.com/argoproj/argo-cd/security/advisories/GHSA-j6cw-g6p4-7hch
- https://github.com/argoproj/argo-cd/pull/6059
- https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/kustomize/pull/3784
- https://github.com/argoproj/argo-cd/commit/b6d5c23bce2f8a46c52975ba438a3b93d242d96c
- https://argo-cd.readthedocs.io/en/stable/user-guide/kustomize/#kustomizing-helm-charts
- https://github.com/argoproj/argo-cd/releases/tag/v3.3.15
- https://github.com/argoproj/argo-cd/releases/tag/v3.4.10
- https://github.com/argoproj/argo-cd/releases/tag/v3.5.4
- https://github.com/argoproj/argo-cd/releases/tag/v3.6.0-rc2
More argoproj vulnerabilities
- TI-2026-22564 Argo Workflows has unauthorized access to Argo Workflows Template CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2024-14377 Argo CD vulnerable to Bypassing of Brute Force Protection via Application Crash and In-Memory Data Loss CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2024-14383 Argo CD vulnerable to Bypassing of Rate Limit and Brute Force Protection Using Cache Overflow CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.1
- TI-2026-31086 ArgoCD ServerSideDiff is vulnerable to Kubernetes Secret Extraction CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.6
- TI-2023-20919 Cluster secret might leak in cluster details page in Argo CD CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.9
- TI-2026-30603 Argo Workflows: Unauthenticated Memory Exhaustion (DoS) in Webhook Interceptor CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.2
Sources
- CVE-2026-113709 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-113709 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- CVE-2026-113709 · 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