Argo CD: A Kustomize remote ref can run commands in the repo-server

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What is CVE-2026-113708?

CVE-2026-113708 is a vulnerability classified as Improper Neutralization of Argument Delimiters in a Command ('Argument Injection'), affecting argo-cd (affected versions: >= 2.7.0, < 3.3.15, >= 3.4.0-rc1, < 3.4.10, and other affected versions). This vulnerability is rated Critical, with a CVSS score of 9.9. Current sources do not report this vulnerability as exploited.

The analysis could not be completed. The original vulnerability data remains available below.

Overview

Original source data

Argo CD is a declarative, GitOps continuous delivery tool for Kubernetes. From 2.7.0 until 3.3.15, 3.4.10, 3.5.4, and 3.6.0-rc2, Kustomize passes ref or version query values from remote resource, base, or component URLs to git fetch without an end-of-options separator. A leading-hyphen value can be parsed as --upload-pack and execute a command inside argocd-repo-server when the remote uses a local transport such as file://. Git does not run the supplied command for an https:// remote. The local transport does not leave the pod, so blocking repo-server egress does not prevent the execution. The command runs as the repo-server user, can read repository credentials and other process-accessible data, and can return output through manifest-generation errors. An attacker can commit a Kustomization to a Git repository that an Application builds or upload files through POST /api/v1/applications/manifestsWithFiles, also exposed by argocd app diff --local --server-side-generate. The upload path requires only Application get permission on an existing Application, without Application update or sync permission or repository write access. Kustomize 5.0.0 introduced acceptance of file://, whereas 4.5.7 rejects that transport; replacing the affected Kustomize with a newer version alone does not correct the missing option separator. This issue is fixed in versions 3.3.15, 3.4.10, 3.5.4, and 3.6.0-rc2.

Affected products and scope

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Technical details

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Exploitability

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Technical impact

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Business impact

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Remediation

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Detection

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