CVE-2022-24731 is a path traversal vulnerability affecting Argo CD, a popular GitOps continuous delivery tool for Kubernetes environments. The vulnerability exists in versions starting from 1.5.0 up to but not including 2.1.11, 2.2.0 up to but not including 2.2.6, and 2.3.0-rc1 up to but not including 2.3.0. Argo CD's repo-server component improperly limits pathname access, allowing a malicious user with read/write permissions to Applications to craft a malicious Helm chart that exploits this flaw. By doing so, the attacker can retrieve the contents of arbitrary text files on the repo-server, including sensitive files such as other Applications' source repositories or secrets mounted as files. The attacker must have create or update access to Applications and must guess or know the file path to be leaked. The vulnerability arises from CWE-22 (improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory) and CWE-284 (improper access control). Although no public exploits are known in the wild, the risk is significant due to the sensitive nature of the data that can be exposed. The issue is patched in Argo CD versions 2.1.11, 2.2.6, and 2.3.0. Mitigation includes avoiding storing secrets in git repositories, not mounting secrets as files on the repo-server, avoiding decrypting secrets into files on the repo-server, and strictly limiting who has create or update permissions on Applications. This vulnerability can lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive configuration and secret data within Kubernetes environments managed by Argo CD, potentially undermining the confidentiality and integrity of deployments.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the confidentiality of sensitive configuration data and secrets managed within Kubernetes clusters using Argo CD. Unauthorized disclosure of secrets or application source code could lead to further compromise, including lateral movement within the environment, exposure of intellectual property, or disruption of critical services. Organizations relying on Argo CD for continuous delivery may face operational risks if attackers leverage leaked secrets to access other infrastructure components or cloud services. Given the increasing adoption of Kubernetes and GitOps workflows in Europe, especially in sectors such as finance, telecommunications, and critical infrastructure, the impact could be substantial. Additionally, exposure of secrets could lead to non-compliance with GDPR and other data protection regulations, resulting in legal and financial penalties. The vulnerability requires an attacker to have create or update permissions, so insider threats or compromised accounts are primary vectors. However, once exploited, the attacker can access sensitive files without further authentication, increasing the risk of data leakage.

1. Upgrade Argo CD to patched versions 2.1.11, 2.2.6, or 2.3.0 immediately to eliminate the vulnerability. 2. Implement strict RBAC policies to tightly control which users or service accounts have create or update permissions on Applications, minimizing the attack surface. 3. Avoid storing secrets in git repositories managed by Argo CD; instead, use external secret management solutions integrated with Kubernetes, such as HashiCorp Vault or Kubernetes Secrets with encryption at rest. 4. Refrain from mounting secrets as files on the repo-server or decrypting secrets into files on the repo-server to reduce the risk of file-based leakage. 5. Conduct regular audits of Argo CD permissions and monitor for unusual application creation or updates that could indicate exploitation attempts. 6. Employ network segmentation and zero-trust principles to limit access to the repo-server component. 7. Use logging and alerting to detect anomalous access patterns or errors that may suggest exploitation of path traversal attempts. 8. Educate DevOps and security teams about the risks of path traversal vulnerabilities and secure GitOps practices.