# CVE-2021-23135: Argo CD leaked secret data into error messages and logs on invalid edits via UI

> Attackers can view leaked secret data in error messages and logs via the web UI when invalid edits are made.

- **Severity:** Medium 5.9 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 12 May 2021
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** BIT-argo-cd-2021-23135, GHSA-fp89-h8pj-8894

## What is CVE-2021-23135?

CVE-2021-23135 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Argoproj Argo Cd, published on 12 May 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Exposure of System Data to an Unauthorized Control Sphere vulnerability in web UI of Argo CD allows attacker to cause leaked secret data into web UI error messages and logs. This issue affects Argo CD 1.8 versions prior to 1.8.7; 1.7 versions prior to 1.7.14.

Weakness: CWE-209 (Generation of Error Message Containing Sensitive Information), CWE-497 (Exposure of Sensitive System Information to an Unauthorized Control Sphere)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-23135?

1 open source package ship an affected version, including argo-cd. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `argo-cd` | Bitnami | From 1.7.0 | 1.7.14, 1.8.7 |

Products: Argoproj Argo Cd.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-23135?

Upgrade argo-cd to a fixed version for your release line: 1.7.14 or 1.8.7.

## Is CVE-2021-23135 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-23135 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Argoproj Argo Cd

- [CVE-2025-55190](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-55190/): Argo CD: Project API Token Exposes Repository Credentials (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2022-29165](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-29165/): Argo CD will blindly trust JWT claims if anonymous access is enabled (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2023-40029](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-40029/): Cluster secret might leak in cluster details page in Argo CD (critical 9.9)
- [CVE-2022-24768](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-24768/): Improper access control allows admin privilege escalation in Argo CD (critical 9.9)
- [CVE-2024-21652](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-21652/): Argo CD vulnerable to Bypassing of Brute Force Protection via Application Crash and In-Memory Data Loss (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-23135 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-23135 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Argoproj Argo Cd, published on 12 May 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-23135 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- argo-cd (Bitnami): affected from 1.7.0; fixed in 1.7.14, 1.8.7

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-23135/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-23135/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-23135
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-23135
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-23135

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-23135/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.