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CVE-2025-55190: Argo CD API Tokens Expose Sensitive Repository Credentials

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Overview

The CVE-2025-55190 is a high-severity vulnerability that affects Argo CD, an open-source declarative GitOps continuous delivery tool for Kubernetes. The vulnerability exposes sensitive repository credentials, such as usernames and passwords, enabling potential attackers to compromise the system and gain unauthorized access to data. Given the widespread use of Argo CD in Kubernetes deployments for automating and speeding up software delivery, this vulnerability could potentially affect a large number of organizations, making it a significant concern in the cybersecurity landscape.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2025-55190
Severity: Critical (CVSS: 9.9)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: None
Impact: System compromise, Data leakage

Affected Products

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Product | Affected Versions

Argo CD | 2.13.0 to 2.13.8
Argo CD | 2.14.0 to 2.14.15
Argo CD | 3.0.0 to 3.0.12
Argo CD | 3.1.0-rc1 to 3.1.1

How the Exploit Works

The vulnerability lies in Argo CD’s project details API endpoint. In the affected versions, API tokens with project-level permissions can retrieve sensitive repository credentials. This exploit can occur even when the token only has standard application management permissions and no explicit access to secrets. The vulnerability isn’t confined to project-level permissions. Any token with project get permissions, including global permissions such as: `p, role/user, projects, get, *, allow`, is vulnerable.

Conceptual Example Code

Here is a conceptual example demonstrating how an attacker might exploit this vulnerability:

GET /api/v1/projects/<project_name> HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
Authorization: Bearer <API_TOKEN_WITH_PROJECT_GET_PERMISSIONS>

In the above example, an attacker using a valid API token with project get permissions sends a GET request to the project details endpoint. The server responds with project details, including sensitive repository credentials, thereby exposing them to the attacker.

Mitigation Guidance

The vulnerability has been fixed in Argo CD versions 2.13.9, 2.14.16, 3.0.14, and 3.1.2. It is strongly recommended that all users of affected versions upgrade to a patched version immediately. If immediate upgrade is not feasible, using a web application firewall (WAF) or intrusion detection system (IDS) can serve as a temporary mitigation measure, although it does not guarantee full protection against potential exploitation of this vulnerability.

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Disclaimer:

The information and code presented in this article are provided for educational and defensive cybersecurity purposes only. Any conceptual or pseudocode examples are simplified representations intended to raise awareness and promote secure development and system configuration practices.

Do not use this information to attempt unauthorized access or exploit vulnerabilities on systems that you do not own or have explicit permission to test.

Ameeba and its authors do not endorse or condone malicious behavior and are not responsible for misuse of the content. Always follow ethical hacking guidelines, responsible disclosure practices, and local laws.

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