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.
History

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 00:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 8.8, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

threat_severity

Important


Thu, 22 Jan 2026 23:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}


Wed, 21 Jan 2026 21:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
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.
Title External Secrets Operator insecurely retrieves secrets through the getSecretKey templating function
Weaknesses CWE-863
References
Metrics cvssV4_0

{'score': 9.3, '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'}


cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: GitHub_M

Published: 2026-01-21T21:22:05.249Z

Updated: 2026-01-22T16:50:23.708Z

Reserved: 2026-01-09T22:50:10.289Z

Link: CVE-2026-22822

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-01-22T15:10:58.931Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-01-21T22:15:49.380

Modified: 2026-01-21T22:15:49.380

Link: CVE-2026-22822

cve-icon Redhat

Severity : Important

Publid Date: 2026-01-21T21:22:05Z

Links: CVE-2026-22822 - Bugzilla