---
id: CVE-2026-22822
title: >-
  External Secrets Operator reads information from a third-party service and
  automatically injects the values as Kubernetes Secrets
summary: >-
  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
  introd…
severity: high
cvss: 8.8
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H'
cwe:
  - CWE-863
  - CWE-863
vendor: external-secrets
product: external_secrets_operator
affected:
  - 'external_secrets_operator >= 0.20.2, < 1.2.0'
patched:
  - external_secrets_operator 1.2.0
published: '2026-01-21'
updated: '2026-06-30'
source: NVD
sourceUrl: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-22822'
references:
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/commit/17d3e22b8d3fbe339faf8515a95ec06ec92b1feb
    label: security-advisories@github.com
  - url: 'https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/issues/5690'
    label: security-advisories@github.com
  - url: 'https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/pull/3895'
    label: security-advisories@github.com
  - url: 'https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/releases/tag/v1.2.0'
    label: security-advisories@github.com
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/security/advisories/GHSA-77v3-r3jw-j2v2
    label: security-advisories@github.com
  - url: 'https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-22822'
    label: 0b0ca135-0b70-47e7-9f44-1890c2a1c46c
  - url: 'https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2431873'
    label: 0b0ca135-0b70-47e7-9f44-1890c2a1c46c
  - url: >-
      https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-22822.json
    label: 0b0ca135-0b70-47e7-9f44-1890c2a1c46c
tags:
  - nvd
epss: 0.00194
epssPercentile: 0.08078
ingestedAt: '2026-06-30T13:26:50.534Z'
---

## Overview

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.

## Affected

- `external_secrets_operator >= 0.20.2, < 1.2.0`

## Remediation

Upgrade past the affected range:

- `external_secrets_operator 1.2.0`