CVE-2026-22822
published 2026-01-21CVE-2026-22822: External Secrets Operator reads information from a third-party service and automatically injects the values as Kubernetes Secrets. Starting in version 0.20.2…
PriorityP345high8.8CVSS 3.1
AVLACLPRLUINSCCHIHAH
EPSS
0.18%
7.2th percentile
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.
Affected
3 ranges
| Vendor | Product | Version range | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| external-secrets | external-secrets | — | — |
| external-secrets | external_secrets_operator | >= 0.20.2 < 1.2.0 | 1.2.0 |
| github.com | external-secrets_external-secrets | >= 0.20.2 < 1.2.0 | 1.2.0 |
CVSS provenance
nvdv3.18.8HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
nvdv4.09.3CRITICALCVSS: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
vendor_redhat9.3CRITICAL
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Red Hat
external-secrets: External Secrets Operator: Cross-Namespace Secret Disclosure via `getSecretKey` Function
vendor_redhat·2026-01-21·CVSS 9.3
CVE-2026-22822 [CRITICAL] CWE-863 external-secrets: External Secrets Operator: Cross-Namespace Secret Disclosure via `getSecretKey` Function
external-secrets: External Secrets Operator: Cross-Namespace Secret Disclosure via `getSecretKey` Function
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, Kyv
OSV
External Secrets Operator insecurely retrieves secrets through the getSecretKey templating function in github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets
osv·2026-02-03
CVE-2026-22822 External Secrets Operator insecurely retrieves secrets through the getSecretKey templating function in github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets
External Secrets Operator insecurely retrieves secrets through the getSecretKey templating function in github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets
External Secrets Operator insecurely retrieves secrets through the getSecretKey templating function in github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets
OSV
External Secrets Operator insecurely retrieves secrets through the getSecretKey templating function
osv·2026-01-20
CVE-2026-22822 [CRITICAL] External Secrets Operator insecurely retrieves secrets through the getSecretKey templating function
External Secrets Operator insecurely retrieves secrets through the getSecretKey templating function
### Summary
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, as everything done with that templating function can be done in a different way while respecting our safeguards (for example, using `sourceRef` like explained here: https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/issues/5690#issuecomment-3630977865)
### Impact
- Cross-namespace secret access: Attackers or misconfigured resources could retrieve secrets from namespaces other than the o
GHSA
External Secrets Operator insecurely retrieves secrets through the getSecretKey templating function
ghsa·2026-01-20
CVE-2026-22822 [CRITICAL] CWE-863 External Secrets Operator insecurely retrieves secrets through the getSecretKey templating function
External Secrets Operator insecurely retrieves secrets through the getSecretKey templating function
### Summary
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, as everything done with that templating function can be done in a different way while respecting our safeguards (for example, using `sourceRef` like explained here: https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/issues/5690#issuecomment-3630977865)
### Impact
- Cross-namespace secret access: Attackers or misconfigured resources could retrieve secrets from namespaces other than the o
No detection rules found.
No public exploits indexed.
https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/commit/17d3e22b8d3fbe339faf8515a95ec06ec92b1febhttps://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/issues/5690https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/pull/3895https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/releases/tag/v1.2.0https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/security/advisories/GHSA-77v3-r3jw-j2v2https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-22822https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2431873https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-22822.json
2026-01-21
Published