External Secrets Operator insecurely retrieves secrets through the getSecretKey templating function
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.
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Affected packages
Versions sourced from the GitHub Security Advisory.
| Package | Affected versions | Patched versions |
|---|---|---|
github.com/external-secrets/external-secretsGo | >= 0.20.2, < 1.2.0 | 1.2.0 |
Affected products
5- Range: helm-chart-0.20.2, helm-chart-0.20.3, helm-chart-0.20.4, …
- osv-coords4 versionspkg:apk/chainguard/external-secrets-operator-1.0pkg:apk/wolfi/external-secrets-operator-1.0pkg:golang/github.com/external-secrets/external-secretspkg:rpm/opensuse/govulncheck-vulndb&distro=openSUSE%20Leap%2015.6
< 1.0.0-r4+ 3 more
- (no CPE)range: < 1.0.0-r4
- (no CPE)range: < 1.0.0-r4
- (no CPE)range: >= 0.20.2, < 1.2.0
- (no CPE)range: < 0.0.20260205T172317-150000.1.146.1
Patches
Vulnerability mechanics
References
7- github.com/advisories/GHSA-77v3-r3jw-j2v2ghsaADVISORY
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-22822ghsaADVISORY
- github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/commit/17d3e22b8d3fbe339faf8515a95ec06ec92b1febghsax_refsource_MISCWEB
- github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/issues/5690ghsax_refsource_MISCWEB
- github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/pull/3895ghsax_refsource_MISCWEB
- github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/releases/tag/v1.2.0ghsax_refsource_MISCWEB
- github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/security/advisories/GHSA-77v3-r3jw-j2v2ghsax_refsource_CONFIRMWEB
News mentions
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