9.8

CVE-2024-36540: external-secrets external_secrets_operator Insecure Inherited Permissions

Analyzed
Published 24-07-2024Last modified 13-03-2025

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2024-36540 is a critical (CVSS 9.8) Insecure Inherited Permissions vulnerability in external-secrets external_secrets_operator. EPSS estimates a 0.42% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 35.3% of scored vulnerabilities.

Overall risk
70/100
0100
High · default modelHow is this calculated?
CVSS score
9.8/10
010
Critical · v3.1 (CVE.org)
EPSS score
0.42%
0%100%
Low · 0.00 pp in 30 days
KEVNot listedNot listed by any tracked catalog.
RansomwareNot flaggedNo ransomware use recorded.
Public exploits0No public exploits recorded

Timeline

  1. 24-07-2024
    PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
  2. 13-03-2025
    Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

Description

Insecure permissions in external-secrets v0.9.16 allows attackers to access sensitive data and escalate privileges by obtaining the service account's token.

CVSS metrics

2 scores · 2 sources · 1 version

EPSS trend

Probability

0.42%

Chance of exploitation in the next 30 days

Percentile

35%

Versus all other CVEs

30-day change

No change 0.00 pp

From 0.42% on 22-09-2026

22-09-202622-10-2026

Known exploited

Compare KEV catalogs
CISA KEV

Not in the CISA KEV catalog.

ENISA CNW

Not in the ENISA CNW catalog.

CIRCL

Not in the CIRCL catalog.

Public exploits

0 found

No public exploits indexed.

Weaknesses

CWE · root cause

Affected systems

External-secrets1 product

1 vendor · 1 product

References

1 links