Authenticated container execution via nested PodSpecPatch override
Published Jul 16, 2026 · Updated Jul 16, 2026
Improper access control in Argo Workflows before 3.7.15 and 4.0.0 through 4.0.5 allows remote authenticated users to run containers. ValidateUserOverrides and SanitizeUserWorkflowSpec allow ArtifactGC wholesale and pass its nested PodSpecPatch unchanged to ApplyPodSpecPatch. Exploitation requires Workflow creation rights, Strict or Secure template referencing, a referenced template with an output artifact, and OnWorkflowCompletion artifact garbage collection; the resulting pod can use an attacker-selected image, command, privileges, host networking, or hostPath mounts subject to cluster policy.
Summary
What happened
Improper access control in Argo Workflows before 3.7.15 and 4.0.0 through 4.0.5 allows remote authenticated users to run containers. ValidateUserOverrides and SanitizeUserWorkflowSpec allow ArtifactGC wholesale and pass its nested PodSpecPatch unchanged to ApplyPodSpecPatch. Exploitation requires Workflow creation rights, Strict or Secure template referencing, a referenced template with an output artifact, and OnWorkflowCompletion artifact garbage collection; the resulting pod can use an attacker-selected image, command, privileges, host networking, or hostPath mounts subject to cluster policy.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-54526
- Published
- Jul 16, 2026
- Updated
- Jul 16, 2026
- Vendor
- Argo Project
- Product
- Argo Workflows
- Classifications
- CWE-284, T1610
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jul 16, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Jul 16, 2026Record 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.
- Affected versionversion=< 3.7.15
- Affected versionversion=>= 4.0.0, < 4.0.6
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Public exploit references
- ArtifactGC.PodSpecPatch proof of conceptproof of concept · demonstrated
Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.
Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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