🛡️ CVE-2023-40026 — argo-cd

🟡 CVSS 5.0 — Medium ✅ No Known Exploit CWE-22 NVD
5.0
CVSS Score
0 Low4 Medium7 High9 Critical10

Description

Path traversal allows leaking out-of-bound Helm charts from Argo CD repo-server

Impact

In Argo CD versions prior to 2.3 (starting at least in v0.1.0, but likely in any version using Helm before 2.3), using a specifically-crafted Helm file could reference external Helm charts handled by the same repo-server to leak values, or files from the referenced Helm Chart. This was possible because Helm paths were predictable.

The vulnerability worked by adding a Helm chart that referenced Helm resources from predictable paths. Because the paths of Helm charts were predictable and available on an instance of repo-server, it was possible to reference and then render the values and resources from other existing Helm charts regardless of permissions. While generally, secrets are not stored in these files, it was nevertheless possible to reference any values from these charts.

Patches

This issue was fixed in Argo CD 2.3 and subsequent versions by randomizing Helm paths.

Workarounds

User's still using Argo CD 2.3 or below are advised to update to a [supported version](https://argo-cd.readthedocs.io/en/stable/operator-manual/installation/#supported-versions). If this is not possible, disabling Helm chart rendering, or using an additional repo-server for each Helm chart would prevent possible exploitation.

References

https://github.com/argoproj/argo-cd/security/advisories/GHSA-63qx-x74g-jcr7

For more information

If you have any questions or comments about this advisory:

  • Open an issue in [example link to repo](http://example.com)
  • Email us at [example email address](mailto:[email protected])

How this vulnerability can be exploited

This issue can be reached over the network, attack complexity is low, an attacker needs low-level privileges on the target. No user interaction is required. The scope is changed, meaning a successful attack can affect components beyond the vulnerable one. Rated impact: confidentiality low, integrity none, availability none.

Weakness class

CVE-2023-40026 is classified as CWE-22: Path Traversal. A file path built from user input is not confined to the intended directory, letting an attacker reach files elsewhere on the filesystem.

Affected software

CVE-2023-40026 is recorded against 3 packages.

  • argo-cd (fixed in 2.3.0)
  • github.com/argoproj/argo-cd
  • github.com/argoproj/argo-cd/v2

Timeline and source

Published on 27 September 2023 and last revised on 17 June 2026. No public exploit is currently recorded for this entry. Record sourced from NVD.

References

argo-cd.readthedocs.io
github.com
argo-cd.readthedocs.io
github.com

Details

Severity MEDIUM
CVSS Score 5.0
CVSS Vector CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:N/A:N
CWE CWE-22
Public Exploit ✅ No
Source NVD
Published 2023-09-27
Updated 2026-08-12
Modified 2026-06-17
Fix URL N/A

Affected Packages

Software From version Fixed in
argo-cd — 2.3.0
github.com/argoproj/argo-cd — —
github.com/argoproj/argo-cd/v2 — —

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