CVE-2026-6388
Description
A flaw was found in ArgoCD Image Updater. This vulnerability allows an attacker, with permissions to create or modify an ImageUpdater resource in a multi-tenant environment, to bypass namespace boundaries. By exploiting insufficient validation, the attacker can trigger unauthorized image updates on applications managed by other tenants. This leads to cross-namespace privilege escalation, impacting application integrity through unauthorized application updates.
Statement
Critical: A cross-namespace privilege escalation flaw in Argo CD Image Updater, a component of Red Hat OpenShift GitOps, allows an attacker with permissions to create or modify ImageUpdater resources to trigger unauthorized image updates on applications in other namespaces. This impacts multi-tenant environments where the controller operates with broad cluster-level permissions. Red Hat OpenShift GitOps versions prior to v1.19.2 are affected.
Mitigation
Ensure that `AppProject` resources are configured to enforce strict tenant isolation within Red Hat OpenShift GitOps environments. Additionally, restrict the permissions of the Argo CD Image Updater controller to operate only within its designated namespaces, and limit the ability of users to create or modify `ImageUpdater` resources to trusted administrators. This reduces the risk of unauthorized cross-namespace application updates.
Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) Score Details
Info alert:Important note
CVSS scores for open source components depend on vendor-specific factors (e.g. version or build chain). Therefore, Red Hat's score and impact rating can be different from NVD and other vendors. Red Hat remains the authoritative CVE Naming Authority (CNA) source for its products and services (see Red Hat classifications).
The following CVSS metrics and score provided are preliminary and subject to review.
CVSS v3 Score Breakdown
| Red Hat | NVD | cve.org | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Score | 9.1 | N/A | 9.1 |
| Attack Vector | Network | N/A | Network |
| Attack Complexity | Low | N/A | Low |
| Privileges Required | Low | N/A | Low |
| User Interaction | None | N/A | None |
| Scope | Changed | N/A | Changed |
| Confidentiality | Low | N/A | Low |
| Integrity Impact | High | N/A | High |
| Availability Impact | Low | N/A | Low |
Vector
Red Hat: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:H/A:L
cve.org: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:H/A:L
Understanding the Weakness (CWE)
Confidentiality,Integrity,Availability,Access Control
Technical Impact: Modify Memory; Read Memory; Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands; Gain Privileges or Assume Identity; Bypass Protection Mechanism; Other
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