This vulnerability allows API tokens with project-level permissions to access sensitive repository credentials through the project details API endpoint, even without explicit access to secrets. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of Argo CD, specifically versions 2.13.0 through 2.13.8, 2.14.0 through 2.14.15, 3.0.0 through 3.0.12, and 3.1.0-rc1 through 3.1.1. Given the critical CVSS score of 9.9, organizations should prioritize patching immediately.
Risk to organizations includes unauthorized access to sensitive information such as usernames and passwords, which could lead to further exploitation within the environment. Since any token with project get permissions is also vulnerable, this issue affects a wide range of tokens, significantly increasing the potential impact.
The vulnerability was published on September 4, 2025, and organizations are advised to apply the patches provided in versions 2.13.9, 2.14.16, 3.0.14, and 3.1.2 to remediate the issue. The urgency for defenders to act is underscored by the critical nature of the vulnerability.
As an immediate step, organizations should review their token permissions and limit access where possible until patches can be applied to ensure that sensitive information remains protected.
Vulnerability Details
The official CVE description states: 'Argo CD is a declarative, GitOps continuous delivery tool for Kubernetes. In versions 2.13.0 through 2.13.8, 2.14.0 through 2.14.15, 3.0.0 through 3.0.12 and 3.1.0-rc1 through 3.1.1, API tokens with project-level permissions are able to retrieve sensitive repository credentials (usernames, passwords) through the project details API endpoint, even when the token only has standard application management permissions and no explicit access to secrets.'
This vulnerability is classified under CWE-200, which pertains to Information Exposure. The CVSS score of 9.9 indicates a critical severity level with high impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
The affected product is Argo CD, and the vulnerability was published on September 4, 2025. Organizations using versions prior to the fixed versions should ensure immediate updates.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the misconfiguration of project-level permissions, allowing API tokens to access sensitive data that should be restricted. The attack vector is network-based, making exploitation relatively easy for an attacker with access to the network.
The attack complexity is low, requiring only standard application management permissions to exploit the vulnerability. No user interaction is required, which increases the risk significantly.
As a result, confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts are all high, allowing unauthorized access and potential misuse of sensitive information.
Risk & Impact Analysis
The real-world deployment risk includes the potential for data breaches and unauthorized access to sensitive credentials. Organizations must understand that the blast radius of this vulnerability extends beyond just project-level permissions; it affects any token with project get permissions, thus broadening the attack surface.
This vulnerability represents a critical failure in access control mechanisms that could lead to significant reputational and financial consequences for affected organizations.
Given the CVSS score of 9.9, organizations should address this vulnerability in their priority patch cycle to prevent exploitation.
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
All versions of Argo CD prior to the patches, specifically versions 2.13.0 through 2.13.8, 2.14.0 through 2.14.15, 3.0.0 through 3.0.12, and 3.1.0-rc1 through 3.1.1, are affected. Organizations must ensure they upgrade to fixed versions 2.13.9, 2.14.16, 3.0.14, or 3.1.2.
Mitigation & Remediation
To mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should immediately apply the available patches to upgrade to the fixed versions of Argo CD: 2.13.9, 2.14.16, 3.0.14, or 3.1.2. In cases where patching is not feasible, organizations should review and restrict project-level permissions to limit access to sensitive data.
For further guidance on securing your application, organizations can leverage application security assessments to identify and remediate potential vulnerabilities.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor log files for any unauthorized access attempts and review user permissions regularly. Behavioral anomalies, such as API tokens accessing sensitive information without appropriate permissions, should also be flagged for investigation.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of this vulnerability underscores the need for robust access control mechanisms within cloud-native applications. It highlights a trend of permission misconfigurations leading to severe information exposure risks.
Security teams should adopt a proactive approach to vulnerability management, ensuring that permissions are reviewed regularly and that all components are kept up to date. For further insights on vulnerability management, organizations can refer to vulnerability management best practices and enhance their overall security posture.
Additionally, organizations might consider engaging in penetration testing to identify similar weaknesses in their applications.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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