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CVE Record

CVE-2026-6388: Argocd-image-updater: argocd image updater: cross-namespace privilege escalation via insufficient namespace validation

A flaw was found in ArgoCD Image Updater. This vulnerability allows an attacker, with permissions to create or modify an ImageUpdater resource in a multi-tenant environment, to bypass namespace boundaries. By exploiting insufficient validation, the attacker can trigger unauthorized image updates on applications managed by other tenants. This leads to cross-namespace privilege escalation, impacting application integrity through unauthorized application updates.

CriticalCVSS 9.1Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysiscritical

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2026-6388 lets a tenant with ImageUpdater write permissions bypass namespace boundaries and cause image updates for applications owned by other tenants. The main business risk is unauthorized application change in shared OpenShift GitOps environments, potentially undermining release control and application integrity.

Executive priority

Treat this as urgent for shared OpenShift GitOps platforms. Prioritize RBAC review and vendor guidance because the flaw can cross tenant boundaries and alter deployed applications without user interaction.

Technical view

ArgoCD Image Updater insufficiently validates namespace boundaries for ImageUpdater resources. In multi-tenant deployments, a low-privileged actor able to create or modify such a resource can trigger unauthorized updates across namespaces. Red Hat rates this critical, CVSS 9.1, with high integrity impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely in Red Hat OpenShift GitOps environments using openshift-gitops-1/argocd-image-updater-rhel8, especially where multiple tenants can create or modify ImageUpdater resources. The source bundle does not identify affected version ranges.

Exploitation context

The CVE record says exploitation requires existing permission to create or modify an ImageUpdater resource. The bundle marks KEV as false and provides no cited evidence of active exploitation, public exploit code, or exploitation in the wild.

Researcher notes

Evidence is limited to Red Hat and CVE metadata. The affected package is named, but version ranges and fixes are not provided in the bundle. Analysis should avoid assuming upstream Argo CD Image Updater releases or non-Red Hat distributions are affected without separate vendor confirmation.

Mitigation direction

  • Check Red Hat guidance for fixed packages or supported workarounds.
  • Restrict ImageUpdater resource creation and modification to trusted administrators.
  • Review tenant RBAC for namespace-scoped GitOps resources.
  • Temporarily limit Image Updater use in shared clusters where feasible.
  • Monitor for unexpected image updates across tenant namespaces.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory OpenShift GitOps deployments using argocd-image-updater-rhel8.
  • Identify users or service accounts with ImageUpdater create or modify permissions.
  • Review ImageUpdater resources for cross-namespace references or unexpected targets.
  • Audit recent application image updates for unauthorized tenant changes.
  • Track Red Hat advisory status for affected and fixed package details.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
5

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

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ATT&CK lookup starting points

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description · low confidence lookup

Privilege behavior lookup

The CVE wording references privilege impact, so privilege escalation and authorization behavior review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.

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cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2026-6388 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Critical
CVSS
9.1 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:H/A:L

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

2CVSS vectors
7Timeline events
2ADP providers
4Source links

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: noneAutomatable: noTechnical Impact: partial

CVSS vector scores

2 official scores

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
9.1CVSS 3.1CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:H/A:L3.15.3redhat
9.1CVSS 3.1CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:H/A:L3.15.3redhat-SADP

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

9.1Critical
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2026-6388Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:H/A:L

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. ADP timelineredhat-SADP

    Reported to Red Hat.

  2. Source timelineredhat

    Reported to Red Hat.

  3. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  4. ADP timelineredhat-SADP

    Made public.

  5. Source timelineredhat

    Made public.

  6. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  7. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

ADP provider summaries

CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
other:ssvc
redhat-SADPargocd-image-updater: ArgoCD Image Updater: Cross-Namespace Privilege Escalation via insufficient namespace validation
other:Red Hat severity ratingcvssV3_1
  • 2026-04-15T19:29:41.063Z: Reported to Red Hat.
  • 2026-04-15T19:30:41.686Z: Made public.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
Red HatRed Hat OpenShift GitOpsopenshift-gitops-1/argocd-image-updater-rhel8affected
Weakness

CWE details

CWE-1220

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.

CWE-1220 · source CWE mapping

Insufficient Granularity of Access Control

Insufficient Granularity of Access Control represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.

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