CVE-2021-3557Network attack vector

Cluster-wide secret disclosure via overprivileged ServiceAccount

Published Feb 16, 2022 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Improper access control in Argo CD before 1.1.1 allows remote authenticated users to read every Kubernetes resource and secret. The deployed argocd-argocd-server ServiceAccount receives cluster-wide read permissions, so workloads using that identity can retrieve resources outside their namespace. Exploitation requires an unprivileged Kubernetes user who can deploy Argo CD in a namespace; exposed secrets can enable further privilege escalation.

CVSS severity6.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.76%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper access control in Argo CD before 1.1.1 allows remote authenticated users to read every Kubernetes resource and secret. The deployed argocd-argocd-server ServiceAccount receives cluster-wide read permissions, so workloads using that identity can retrieve resources outside their namespace. Exploitation requires an unprivileged Kubernetes user who can deploy Argo CD in a namespace; exposed secrets can enable further privilege escalation.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-3557
Published
Feb 16, 2022
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Argo Project
Product
Argo CD
Classifications
CWE-732, T1552.007
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 16, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 3, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=argocd 1.1.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Argo Project · Argo CDversion=argocd 1.1.1

Published CVSS scores

6.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
4.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:N/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-732Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource
T1552.007Unsecured Credentials: Container API

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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