{"id":"CVE-2026-22822","aliases":["GHSA-77v3-r3jw-j2v2","GO-2026-4330"],"url":"https://o3.security/vulnerability/CVE-2026-22822","summary":"External Secrets Operator insecurely retrieves secrets through the getSecretKey templating function","details":"### Summary\n\nThe `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.\n\nThis 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)\n\n### Impact\n- Cross-namespace secret access: Attackers or misconfigured resources could retrieve secrets from namespaces other than the one intended.\n- privilege escalation: Unauthorized access to secrets could lead to privilege escalation, data exfiltration, or compromise of service accounts and credentials.\n\n### Resolution\n\nWe removed the incriminated templating function from our codebase. All users should upgrade to the latest version containing this fix.\n\n### Workarounds\n\nUse a policy engine such as Kubernetes, Kyverno, Kubewarden, or OPA to prevent the usage of `getSecretKey` in any ExternalSecret resource.\n\n### Details\n\nSee also:\n- https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/issues/5690\n- https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/pull/3895","published":"2026-01-21T21:22:05.249Z","modified":"2026-08-12T03:51:45.964421693Z","cvss":null,"epss":null,"cisaKev":null,"exploitsKnown":0,"affectedPackages":[{"ecosystem":"Go","name":"github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets","fixedVersion":"1.2.0"}],"fix":{"url":"https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/commit/17d3e22b8d3fbe339faf8515a95ec06ec92b1feb","label":"external-secrets/external-secrets@17d3e22"},"references":[{"type":"WEB","url":"https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/releases/tag/v1.2.0"},{"type":"WEB","url":"https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-22822.json"},{"type":"ADVISORY","url":"https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-22822"},{"type":"ADVISORY","url":"https://github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/tree/main/cves/2026/22xxx/CVE-2026-22822.json"},{"type":"ADVISORY","url":"https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/security/advisories/GHSA-77v3-r3jw-j2v2"},{"type":"ADVISORY","url":"https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-22822"},{"type":"REPORT","url":"https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2431873"},{"type":"REPORT","url":"https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/issues/5690"},{"type":"FIX","url":"https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/commit/17d3e22b8d3fbe339faf8515a95ec06ec92b1feb"},{"type":"FIX","url":"https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/pull/3895"},{"type":"PACKAGE","url":"https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets"}],"provenance":{"sources":["OSV.dev","FIRST.org (EPSS)"],"lastVerified":"2026-08-12T03:51:45.964421693Z"}}