CVE-2026-76229 renovatebot CVE debrief

Who should care

Defenders responsible for managing Renovate installations, especially those with repository write access granted to untrusted users, should assess exposure and prioritize patching or mitigation.

Why it matters

CVE-2026-76229 is a high-severity vulnerability in Renovate that allows for arbitrary command injection. Defenders should prioritize patching or mitigating this vulnerability, especially in environments where repository write access is granted to untrusted users or where the Renovate tool is used extensively.

• Potential for arbitrary command execution on Renovate host machines
• Possible lateral movement within the network if the vulnerability is exploited
• Need for verification of affected versions and exposure in the environment
• Priority for patching or mitigating the vulnerability to prevent exploitation

Technical summary

The vulnerability is caused by improper sanitization of user-provided chart names in the kustomize manager of Renovate versions from 39.218.0 before 40.33.0. This allows attackers with repository write access to craft malicious kustomization.yaml files and execute arbitrary commands on the Renovate host machine. Defenders should prioritize patching or mitigating this vulnerability, especially in environments where repository write access is granted to untrusted users or where the Renovate tool is used extensively. The CVE record and NVD entry provide details on the vulnerability, including its CVSS score of 8.4 and severity of HIGH.

Defensive priority

Defenders should prioritize patching or mitigating this vulnerability, especially in environments where repository write access is granted to untrusted users or where the Renovate tool is used extensively.

Recommended defensive actions

• Patch or upgrade Renovate to version 40.33.0 or later
• Restrict repository write access to trusted users
• Monitor Renovate host machines for suspicious activity
• Implement additional security controls, such as input validation and sanitization
• Review compensating controls for exposed systems while remediation is scheduled and verified
• Track exceptions, retest remediated assets, and close the item only after evidence is documented
• Confirm whether affected product deployments exist in managed environments and assign an owner for follow-up

Evidence notes

The CVE record and NVD entry provide details on the vulnerability, including its CVSS score of 8.4 and severity of HIGH. The vulnerability is caused by improper sanitization of user-provided chart names in the kustomize manager of Renovate versions from 39.218.0 before 40.33.0.

Sources and references

Methodology and review provenance

AI-assisted synthesis based on stored public vulnerability evidence. System validation, approval state, and publication status do not by themselves establish human review of this revision. PatchSiren helps prioritize defensive review and does not prove exposure or remediation on any system.