---
id: CVE-2026-113708
title: 'Argo CD: A Kustomize remote ref can run commands in the repo-server'
summary: >-
  Argo CD is a declarative, GitOps continuous delivery tool for Kubernetes. From
  2.7.0 until 3.3.15, 3.4.10, 3.5.4, and 3.6.0-rc2, Kustomize passes ref or
  version query values from remote resource, base, or component URLs to git
  fetch with…
severity: critical
cvss: 9.9
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H'
cvssSource: cna
cwe:
  - CWE-88
vendor: argoproj
product: argo-cd
affected:
  - 'argo-cd >= 2.7.0, < 3.3.15'
  - 'argo-cd >= 3.4.0-rc1, < 3.4.10'
  - 'argo-cd >= 3.5.0-rc1, < 3.5.4'
  - 'argo-cd >= 3.6.0-rc1, < 3.6.0-rc2'
ssvc:
  exploitation: none
  automatable: 'no'
  technicalImpact: total
  timestamp: '2026-10-20T18:42:42.463091Z'
published: '2026-10-20'
updated: '2026-10-20'
sourceUpdated: '2026-10-20T18:43:40.767Z'
source: CVEORG
sourceUrl: 'https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-113708'
references:
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/argoproj/argo-cd/security/advisories/GHSA-9v9p-x54c-58gc
    label: >-
      https://github.com/argoproj/argo-cd/security/advisories/GHSA-9v9p-x54c-58gc
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/argoproj/argo-cd/security/advisories/GHSA-j6cw-g6p4-7hch
    label: >-
      https://github.com/argoproj/argo-cd/security/advisories/GHSA-j6cw-g6p4-7hch
  - url: 'https://github.com/argoproj/argo-cd/pull/12299'
    label: 'https://github.com/argoproj/argo-cd/pull/12299'
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/argoproj/argo-cd/commit/25badeb7a1e154805340bb7237e0ce671f3772dd
    label: >-
      https://github.com/argoproj/argo-cd/commit/25badeb7a1e154805340bb7237e0ce671f3772dd
  - url: >-
      https://argo-cd.readthedocs.io/en/stable/user-guide/kustomize/#custom-kustomize-versions
    label: >-
      https://argo-cd.readthedocs.io/en/stable/user-guide/kustomize/#custom-kustomize-versions
  - url: 'https://github.com/argoproj/argo-cd/releases/tag/v3.3.15'
    label: 'https://github.com/argoproj/argo-cd/releases/tag/v3.3.15'
  - url: 'https://github.com/argoproj/argo-cd/releases/tag/v3.4.10'
    label: 'https://github.com/argoproj/argo-cd/releases/tag/v3.4.10'
  - url: 'https://github.com/argoproj/argo-cd/releases/tag/v3.5.4'
    label: 'https://github.com/argoproj/argo-cd/releases/tag/v3.5.4'
  - url: 'https://github.com/argoproj/argo-cd/releases/tag/v3.6.0-rc2'
    label: 'https://github.com/argoproj/argo-cd/releases/tag/v3.6.0-rc2'
tags:
  - cve.org
ingestedAt: '2026-10-20T19:16:14.409Z'
---

## Overview

Argo CD is a declarative, GitOps continuous delivery tool for Kubernetes. From 2.7.0 until 3.3.15, 3.4.10, 3.5.4, and 3.6.0-rc2, Kustomize passes ref or version query values from remote resource, base, or component URLs to git fetch without an end-of-options separator. A leading-hyphen value can be parsed as --upload-pack and execute a command inside argocd-repo-server when the remote uses a local transport such as file://. Git does not run the supplied command for an https:// remote. The local transport does not leave the pod, so blocking repo-server egress does not prevent the execution. The command runs as the repo-server user, can read repository credentials and other process-accessible data, and can return output through manifest-generation errors. An attacker can commit a Kustomization to a Git repository that an Application builds or upload files through POST /api/v1/applications/manifestsWithFiles, also exposed by argocd app diff --local --server-side-generate. The upload path requires only Application get permission on an existing Application, without Application update or sync permission or repository write access. Kustomize 5.0.0 introduced acceptance of file://, whereas 4.5.7 rejects that transport; replacing the affected Kustomize with a newer version alone does not correct the missing option separator. This issue is fixed in versions 3.3.15, 3.4.10, 3.5.4, and 3.6.0-rc2.

## Affected

- `argo-cd >= 2.7.0, < 3.3.15`
- `argo-cd >= 3.4.0-rc1, < 3.4.10`
- `argo-cd >= 3.5.0-rc1, < 3.5.4`
- `argo-cd >= 3.6.0-rc1, < 3.6.0-rc2`

## Remediation

Refer to the linked advisories for vendor-supplied fixes and affected version ranges.