External Secrets Operator insecurely retrieves secrets through the getSecretKey templating function_CVE-2026-22822

{
    "lastseen": "",
    "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.",
    "published": "2026-01-21T21:22:05.249Z",
    "modified": "2026-01-22T16:50:23.708Z",
    "type": "cve",
    "title": "External Secrets Operator insecurely retrieves secrets through the getSecretKey templating function",
    "source": "GitHub_M",
    "references": "https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/security/advisories/GHSA-77v3-r3jw-j2v2\nhttps://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/issues/5690\nhttps://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/pull/3895\nhttps://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/commit/17d3e22b8d3fbe339faf8515a95ec06ec92b1feb\nhttps://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/releases/tag/v1.2.0",
    "id": "CVE-2026-22822",
    "bulletinFamily": "",
    "cwe": [
        "CWE-863"
    ],
    "cvelist": null,
    "sourceData": "external-secrets external-secrets >= 0.20.2, < 1.2.0",
    "sourceHref": "",
    "cvss": {
        "score": 9.3,
        "severity": "CRITICAL",
        "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",
        "version": "4.0"
    },
    "cvss2": [],
    "cvss3": {
        "version": "",
        "vectorString": "",
        "baseScore": 0,
        "baseSeverity": "",
        "attackVector": "",
        "attackComplexity": "",
        "privilegesRequired": "",
        "userInteraction": "",
        "scope": "",
        "confidentialityImpact": "",
        "integrityImpact": "",
        "availabilityImpact": "",
        "cvssV3": {
            "version": "",
            "vectorString": "",
            "baseScore": 0,
            "baseSeverity": "",
            "attackVector": "",
            "attackComplexity": "",
            "privilegesRequired": "",
            "userInteraction": "",
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            "confidentialityImpact": "",
            "integrityImpact": "",
            "availabilityImpact": ""
        }
    },
    "href": "",
    "category_name": "CVE",
    "post_link": "",
    "product": "external-secrets",
    "version": ">= 0.20.2, < 1.2.0",
    "vendor": "external-secrets",
    "ai_description": "",
    "ai_severity": "",
    "ai_vendor": "",
    "ai_product": "",
    "ai_version": "",
    "ai_score": 0
}