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Vulnerability record · CVE-2026-22822 · published 21 January 2026

CVE-2026-22822: External-secrets external secrets operator incorrect authorization vulnerability

External Secrets · External Secrets Operator

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.

9.3 CVSS 4.0 Critical EPSS 0.19% · top 91.8% CWE-863 · Incorrect authorization
9.3CVSS 4.0 base score
0.19%EPSS exploitation probability, 30 days
NoNot in CISA KEV
1Affected product versions listed by NVD
8References
15 Jul 2026Last modified by NVD

Description

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.

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:

Affected products

1 vulnerable configurations from NVD's CPE data, grouped by vendor and product.

References

LinkTags
https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/commit/17d3e22b8d3fbe339faf8515a95ec06ec92b1feb Patch
https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/issues/5690 Issue Tracking
https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/pull/3895 Issue Tracking
https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/releases/tag/v1.2.0 ProductRelease Notes
https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/security/advisories/GHSA-77v3-r3jw-j2v2 Vendor Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-22822
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2431873
https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-22822.json

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Related vulnerabilities

Same products first, then exploited flaws of the same weakness class.

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Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database (record CVE-2026-22822), CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS (scores of 2026-09-27). This page is refreshed as NVD updates the record.