CVE-2026-22822

External Secrets Operator insecurely retrieves secrets through the getSecretKey templating function

Published Jan 21, 2026 CVSS 4.0 · 9.3 Critical EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
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.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Github GHSA Github GHSA GHSA-77v3-r3jw-j2v2 External Secrets Operator insecurely retrieves secrets through the getSecretKey templating function
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared External-secrets external Secrets Operator
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:external-secrets:external_secrets_operator:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products External-secrets external Secrets Operator
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared External-secrets
External-secrets external-secrets
Vendors & Products External-secrets
External-secrets external-secrets
Type Values Removed Values Added
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 8.8, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

threat_severity

Important

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
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.
Title External Secrets Operator insecurely retrieves secrets through the getSecretKey templating function
Weaknesses CWE-863
References
Metrics cvssV4_0

{'score': 9.3, 'vector': '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'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
GitHub_M
Published
Updated
Jul 15, 2026, 1:19 AM
Reserved
Jan 9, 2026, 10:50 PM
Status
Modified
Published
Jan 21, 2026, 10:15 PM
Modified
Jul 15, 2026, 2:18 AM
Severity
Important
Public date
Jan 21, 2026, 9:22 PM