CVE-2025-55196

Aug. 13, 2025, 11:15 p.m.

7.1
High

Description

External Secrets Operator is a Kubernetes operator that integrates external secret management systems. From version 0.15.0 to before 0.19.2, a vulnerability was discovered where the List() calls for Kubernetes Secret and SecretStore resources performed by the PushSecret controller did not apply a namespace selector. This flaw allowed an attacker to use label selectors to list and read secrets/secret-stores across the cluster, bypassing intended namespace restrictions. An attacker with the ability to create or update PushSecret resources and control SecretStore configurations could exploit this vulnerability to exfiltrate sensitive data from arbitrary namespaces. This could lead to full disclosure of Kubernetes secrets, including credentials, tokens, and other sensitive information stored in the cluster. This vulnerability has been patched in version 0.19.2. A workaround for this issue includes auditing and restricting RBAC permissions so that only trusted service accounts can create or update PushSecret and SecretStore resources.

Product(s) Impacted

Vendor Product Versions
External Secrets Operator
  • External Secrets Operator
  • 0.15.0-0.19.1, <0.19.2

Weaknesses

Common security weaknesses mapped to this vulnerability.

CWE-284
Improper Access Control
The product does not restrict or incorrectly restricts access to a resource from an unauthorized actor.

*CPE(s)

Affected systems and software identified for this CVE.

Type Vendor Product Version Update Edition Language Software Edition Target Software Target Hardware Other Information
a external_secrets_operator external_secrets_operator 0.15.0-0.19.1 / / / / / / /
a external_secrets_operator external_secrets_operator <0.19.2 / / / / / / /

References

https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/commit/39cdba5863533007b582dc63dd300839326b2f1d
https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/commit/de40e8f4fa9559c1d770bb674589b285da5ef2d1
https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/pull/5109
https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/pull/5133
https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/security/advisories/GHSA-fcxq-v2r3-cc8h

Tags

CWE-284
security-advisories@github.com
2025-08-13
CVE-2025-55196

CVSS Score

7.1 / 10

CVSS Data - 4.0

  • Attack Vector: NETWORK
  • Attack Complexity: LOW
  • Attack Requirements: NONE
  • Privileges Required: LOW
  • User Interaction: NONE
  • Scope:
  • Confidentiality Impact: HIGH
  • Integrity Impact: NONE
  • Availability Impact: NONE
  • Exploit Maturity: NOT_DEFINED

    • CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X

    View Vector String

Timeline

Published: Aug. 13, 2025, 11:15 p.m.
Last Modified: Aug. 13, 2025, 11:15 p.m.

Status : Received

CVE has been recently published to the CVE List and has been received by the NVD.

More info

Source

security-advisories@github.com

*Disclaimer: Some vulnerabilities do not have an associated CPE. To enhance the data, we use AI to infer CPEs based on CVE details. This is an automated process and might not always be accurate.