diff --git a/cmd/ci-operator/main.go b/cmd/ci-operator/main.go
index 73707bfcb8c..317de9af6e5 100644
--- a/cmd/ci-operator/main.go
+++ b/cmd/ci-operator/main.go
@@ -429,7 +429,6 @@ type options struct {
 	dependencyOverrides      stringSlice
 
 	targetAdditionalSuffix string
-	manifestToolDockerCfg  string
 	localRegistryDNS       string
 
 	restrictNetworkAccess bool
@@ -504,7 +503,6 @@ func bindOptions(flag *flag.FlagSet) *options {
 
 	flag.StringVar(&opt.targetAdditionalSuffix, "target-additional-suffix", "", "Inject an additional suffix onto the targeted test's 'as' name. Used for adding an aggregate index")
 
-	flag.StringVar(&opt.manifestToolDockerCfg, "manifest-tool-dockercfg", "/secrets/manifest-tool/.dockerconfigjson", "The dockercfg file path to be used to push the manifest listed image after build. This is being used by the manifest-tool binary.")
 	flag.StringVar(&opt.localRegistryDNS, "local-registry-dns", "image-registry.openshift-image-registry.svc:5000", "Defines the target image registry.")
 
 	opt.resultsOptions.Bind(flag)
@@ -902,7 +900,7 @@ func (o *options) Run() []error {
 	// load the graph from the configuration
 	buildSteps, promotionSteps, err := defaults.FromConfig(ctx, o.configSpec, &o.graphConfig, o.jobSpec, o.templates, o.writeParams, o.promote, o.clusterConfig,
 		o.podPendingTimeout, leaseClient, o.targets.values, o.cloneAuthConfig, o.pullSecret, o.pushSecret, o.censor, o.hiveKubeconfig,
-		o.consoleHost, o.nodeName, nodeArchitectures, o.targetAdditionalSuffix, o.manifestToolDockerCfg, o.localRegistryDNS, streams, injectedTest)
+		o.consoleHost, o.nodeName, nodeArchitectures, o.targetAdditionalSuffix, o.localRegistryDNS, streams, injectedTest)
 	if err != nil {
 		return []error{results.ForReason("defaulting_config").WithError(err).Errorf("failed to generate steps from config: %v", err)}
 	}
diff --git a/images/ci-operator/Dockerfile b/images/ci-operator/Dockerfile
index 2cce6ff6c4a..07f048f5861 100644
--- a/images/ci-operator/Dockerfile
+++ b/images/ci-operator/Dockerfile
@@ -2,6 +2,5 @@ FROM registry.access.redhat.com/ubi9/ubi-minimal:latest
 
 RUN microdnf install -y git python3 findutils tar jq
 
-ADD manifest-tool /usr/bin/manifest-tool
 ADD ci-operator /usr/bin/ci-operator
 ENTRYPOINT ["/usr/bin/ci-operator"]
diff --git a/pkg/api/constant.go b/pkg/api/constant.go
index 8e7bd4db5ff..48e8e33933d 100644
--- a/pkg/api/constant.go
+++ b/pkg/api/constant.go
@@ -15,9 +15,6 @@ const (
 	GCSUploadCredentialsSecret          = "gce-sa-credentials-gcs-publisher"
 	GCSUploadCredentialsSecretMountPath = "/secrets/gcs"
 
-	ManifestToolLocalPusherSecret          = "manifest-tool-local-pusher"
-	ManifestToolLocalPusherSecretMountPath = "/secrets/manifest-tool"
-
 	ReleaseAnnotationSoftDelete = "release.openshift.io/soft-delete"
 
 	// DPTPRequesterLabel is the label on a Kubernates CR whose value indicates the automated tool that requests the CR
diff --git a/pkg/controller/multiarchbuildconfig/multiarchbuildconfig.go b/pkg/controller/multiarchbuildconfig/multiarchbuildconfig.go
index 77bd656fb7b..b982163056e 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/multiarchbuildconfig/multiarchbuildconfig.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/multiarchbuildconfig/multiarchbuildconfig.go
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ func AddToManager(mgr manager.Manager, architectures []string, dockerCfgPath str
 			logger:         logger,
 			client:         mgr.GetClient(),
 			architectures:  architectures,
-			manifestPusher: manifestpusher.NewManifestPusher(logger, registryURL, dockerCfgPath),
+			manifestPusher: manifestpusher.NewManifestPusher(logger, registryURL),
 			imageMirrorer:  &ocImage{log: logger, registryConfig: dockerCfgPath},
 			scheme:         mgr.GetScheme(),
 		}); err != nil {
diff --git a/pkg/defaults/defaults.go b/pkg/defaults/defaults.go
index ab81af6f567..7ff14c05622 100644
--- a/pkg/defaults/defaults.go
+++ b/pkg/defaults/defaults.go
@@ -78,7 +78,6 @@ func FromConfig(
 	nodeName string,
 	nodeArchitectures []string,
 	targetAdditionalSuffix string,
-	manifestToolDockerCfg string,
 	localRegistryDNS string,
 	integratedStreams map[string]*configresolver.IntegratedStream,
 	injectedTest bool,
@@ -94,7 +93,7 @@ func FromConfig(
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("could not get build client for cluster config: %w", err)
 	}
-	buildClient := steps.NewBuildClient(client, buildGetter.RESTClient(), nodeArchitectures, manifestToolDockerCfg, localRegistryDNS)
+	buildClient := steps.NewBuildClient(client, buildGetter.RESTClient(), nodeArchitectures, localRegistryDNS)
 
 	templateGetter, err := templateclientset.NewForConfig(clusterConfig)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/pkg/defaults/defaults_test.go b/pkg/defaults/defaults_test.go
index 4796cd48cba..9ea768458f8 100644
--- a/pkg/defaults/defaults_test.go
+++ b/pkg/defaults/defaults_test.go
@@ -1285,7 +1285,7 @@ func TestFromConfig(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		}
 	}
-	buildClient := steps.NewBuildClient(client, nil, nil, "", "")
+	buildClient := steps.NewBuildClient(client, nil, nil, "")
 	var templateClient steps.TemplateClient
 	podClient := kubernetes.NewPodClient(client, nil, nil, 0)
 
diff --git a/pkg/manifestpusher/manifestpusher.go b/pkg/manifestpusher/manifestpusher.go
index f0381b4b7e8..4279ee77ca9 100644
--- a/pkg/manifestpusher/manifestpusher.go
+++ b/pkg/manifestpusher/manifestpusher.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package manifestpusher
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"os"
 
 	"github.com/estesp/manifest-tool/v2/pkg/registry"
 	"github.com/estesp/manifest-tool/v2/pkg/types"
@@ -12,30 +13,31 @@ import (
 )
 
 const (
-	nodeArchitectureLabel = "kubernetes.io/arch"
+	nodeArchitectureLabel   = "kubernetes.io/arch"
+	serviceAccountTokenPath = "/var/run/secrets/kubernetes.io/serviceaccount/token"
 )
 
 type ManifestPusher interface {
 	PushImageWithManifest(builds []buildv1.Build, targetImageRef string) error
 }
 
-func NewManifestPusher(logger *logrus.Entry, registryURL string, dockercfgPath string) ManifestPusher {
-	return &manifestPusher{
-		logger:        logger,
-		registryURL:   registryURL,
-		dockercfgPath: dockercfgPath,
-	}
+func NewManifestPusher(logger *logrus.Entry, registryURL string) ManifestPusher {
+	return &manifestPusher{logger: logger, registryURL: registryURL}
 }
 
 type manifestPusher struct {
-	logger        *logrus.Entry
-	registryURL   string
-	dockercfgPath string
+	logger      *logrus.Entry
+	registryURL string
 }
 
 func (m manifestPusher) PushImageWithManifest(builds []buildv1.Build, targetImageRef string) error {
 	srcImages := []types.ManifestEntry{}
 
+	serviceAccountToken, err := resolveServiceAccountToken()
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("couldn't get the service account token: %w", err)
+	}
+
 	for _, build := range builds {
 		srcImages = append(srcImages, types.ManifestEntry{
 			Image: fmt.Sprintf("%s/%s/%s", m.registryURL, build.Spec.Output.To.Namespace, build.Spec.Output.To.Name),
@@ -47,14 +49,14 @@ func (m manifestPusher) PushImageWithManifest(builds []buildv1.Build, targetImag
 	}
 
 	digest, _, err := registry.PushManifestList(
-		"", // username: we don't we use basic auth
-		"", // password:             "
+		"ci-operator",
+		serviceAccountToken,
 		types.YAMLInput{Image: fmt.Sprintf("%s/%s", m.registryURL, targetImageRef), Manifests: srcImages},
 		false,        // --ignore-missing. We don't want to ignore missing images.
 		true,         // --insecure to allow pushing to the local registry.
 		false,        // --plain-http is false by default in manifest-tool. False for the OpenShift registry.
 		types.Docker, // we only need docker type manifest.
-		m.dockercfgPath,
+		"",
 	)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -63,3 +65,11 @@ func (m manifestPusher) PushImageWithManifest(builds []buildv1.Build, targetImag
 
 	return nil
 }
+
+func resolveServiceAccountToken() (string, error) {
+	data, err := os.ReadFile(serviceAccountTokenPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("failed to read token file: %w", err)
+	}
+	return string(data), nil
+}
diff --git a/pkg/prowgen/podspec.go b/pkg/prowgen/podspec.go
index d08237eb910..74f1ba77bbf 100644
--- a/pkg/prowgen/podspec.go
+++ b/pkg/prowgen/podspec.go
@@ -46,11 +46,6 @@ var defaultPodSpec = corev1.PodSpec{
 					MountPath: cioperatorapi.GCSUploadCredentialsSecretMountPath,
 					ReadOnly:  true,
 				},
-				{
-					Name:      "manifest-tool-local-pusher",
-					MountPath: cioperatorapi.ManifestToolLocalPusherSecretMountPath,
-					ReadOnly:  true,
-				},
 			},
 		},
 	},
@@ -67,12 +62,6 @@ var defaultPodSpec = corev1.PodSpec{
 				Secret: &corev1.SecretVolumeSource{SecretName: "result-aggregator"},
 			},
 		},
-		{
-			Name: "manifest-tool-local-pusher",
-			VolumeSource: corev1.VolumeSource{
-				Secret: &corev1.SecretVolumeSource{SecretName: cioperatorapi.ManifestToolLocalPusherSecret},
-			},
-		},
 	},
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/steps/build_client.go b/pkg/steps/build_client.go
index d29a41dac27..b3570d300dc 100644
--- a/pkg/steps/build_client.go
+++ b/pkg/steps/build_client.go
@@ -16,25 +16,22 @@ type BuildClient interface {
 	loggingclient.LoggingClient
 	Logs(namespace, name string, options *buildapi.BuildLogOptions) (io.ReadCloser, error)
 	NodeArchitectures() []string
-	ManifestToolDockerCfg() string
 	LocalRegistryDNS() string
 }
 
 type buildClient struct {
 	loggingclient.LoggingClient
-	client                rest.Interface
-	nodeArchitectures     []string
-	manifestToolDockerCfg string
-	localRegistryDNS      string
+	client            rest.Interface
+	nodeArchitectures []string
+	localRegistryDNS  string
 }
 
-func NewBuildClient(client loggingclient.LoggingClient, restClient rest.Interface, nodeArchitectures []string, manifestToolDockerCfg, localRegistryDNS string) BuildClient {
+func NewBuildClient(client loggingclient.LoggingClient, restClient rest.Interface, nodeArchitectures []string, localRegistryDNS string) BuildClient {
 	return &buildClient{
-		LoggingClient:         client,
-		client:                restClient,
-		nodeArchitectures:     nodeArchitectures,
-		manifestToolDockerCfg: manifestToolDockerCfg,
-		localRegistryDNS:      localRegistryDNS,
+		LoggingClient:     client,
+		client:            restClient,
+		nodeArchitectures: nodeArchitectures,
+		localRegistryDNS:  localRegistryDNS,
 	}
 }
 
@@ -52,10 +49,6 @@ func (c *buildClient) NodeArchitectures() []string {
 	return c.nodeArchitectures
 }
 
-func (c *buildClient) ManifestToolDockerCfg() string {
-	return c.manifestToolDockerCfg
-}
-
 func (c *buildClient) LocalRegistryDNS() string {
 	return c.localRegistryDNS
 }
diff --git a/pkg/steps/index_generator_test.go b/pkg/steps/index_generator_test.go
index ba163643871..6011a92b856 100644
--- a/pkg/steps/index_generator_test.go
+++ b/pkg/steps/index_generator_test.go
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ func TestDatabaseIndex(t *testing.T) {
 			if err := yaml.Unmarshal(rawImageStreamTag, ist); err != nil {
 				t.Fatalf("failed to unmarshal imagestreamTag: %v", err)
 			}
-			actual, actualErr := databaseIndex(NewBuildClient(loggingclient.New(fakectrlruntimeclient.NewClientBuilder().WithObjects(ist, image).Build()), nil, nil, "", ""),
+			actual, actualErr := databaseIndex(NewBuildClient(loggingclient.New(fakectrlruntimeclient.NewClientBuilder().WithObjects(ist, image).Build()), nil, nil, ""),
 				testCase.isTagName, "ns")
 			if diff := cmp.Diff(testCase.expectedErr, actualErr, testhelper.EquateErrorMessage); diff != "" {
 				t.Fatalf("actual did not match expected, diff: %s", diff)
diff --git a/pkg/steps/source.go b/pkg/steps/source.go
index 36b81d90182..90bb6ae5273 100644
--- a/pkg/steps/source.go
+++ b/pkg/steps/source.go
@@ -493,7 +493,7 @@ func handleBuilds(ctx context.Context, buildClient BuildClient, podClient kubern
 	}
 
 	if len(errs) == 0 {
-		manifestPusher := manifestpusher.NewManifestPusher(logrus.WithField("for-build", build.Name), buildClient.LocalRegistryDNS(), buildClient.ManifestToolDockerCfg())
+		manifestPusher := manifestpusher.NewManifestPusher(logrus.WithField("for-build", build.Name), buildClient.LocalRegistryDNS())
 		if err := manifestPusher.PushImageWithManifest(builds, fmt.Sprintf("%s/%s", build.Spec.Output.To.Namespace, build.Spec.Output.To.Name)); err != nil {
 			errs = append(errs, err)
 		}
diff --git a/pkg/steps/source_test.go b/pkg/steps/source_test.go
index c42109db7f6..d75a7f673e5 100644
--- a/pkg/steps/source_test.go
+++ b/pkg/steps/source_test.go
@@ -455,7 +455,7 @@ func TestWaitForBuild(t *testing.T) {
 							CompletionTimestamp: &end,
 						},
 					},
-				).Build()), nil, nil, "", ""),
+				).Build()), nil, nil, ""),
 			expected: fmt.Errorf("build didn't start running within 0s (phase: Pending)"),
 		},
 		{
@@ -484,7 +484,7 @@ func TestWaitForBuild(t *testing.T) {
 							Namespace: ns,
 						},
 					},
-				).Build()), nil, nil, "", ""),
+				).Build()), nil, nil, ""),
 			expected: fmt.Errorf("build didn't start running within 0s (phase: Pending):\nFound 0 events for Pod some-build-build:"),
 		},
 		{
@@ -525,7 +525,7 @@ func TestWaitForBuild(t *testing.T) {
 							}},
 						},
 					},
-				).Build()), nil, nil, "", ""),
+				).Build()), nil, nil, ""),
 			expected: fmt.Errorf(`build didn't start running within 0s (phase: Pending):
 * Container the-container is not ready with reason the_reason and message the_message
 Found 0 events for Pod some-build-build:`),
@@ -544,7 +544,7 @@ Found 0 events for Pod some-build-build:`),
 						StartTimestamp:      &start,
 						CompletionTimestamp: &end,
 					},
-				}).Build()), nil, nil, "", ""),
+				}).Build()), nil, nil, ""),
 			timeout: 30 * time.Minute,
 		},
 		{
@@ -588,7 +588,7 @@ Found 0 events for Pod some-build-build:`),
 							Time: now.Add(-59 * time.Minute),
 						},
 					},
-				}).Build()), nil, nil, "", ""),
+				}).Build()), nil, nil, ""),
 			timeout: 30 * time.Minute,
 		},
 		{
diff --git a/test/e2e/framework/ci-operator.go b/test/e2e/framework/ci-operator.go
index 926de251eea..ed787e6c844 100644
--- a/test/e2e/framework/ci-operator.go
+++ b/test/e2e/framework/ci-operator.go
@@ -87,7 +87,6 @@ func newCiOperatorCommand(t *T) CiOperatorCommand {
 	cmd := exec.CommandContext(ctx, "ci-operator",
 		"--input-hash="+strconv.Itoa(rand.Int()), // we need unique namespaces
 		GCSPushCredentialsFlag(t),
-		ManifestToolCredentialsFlag(t),
 		LocalRegistryDNSFlag(t),
 	)
 	cmd.Env = append(cmd.Env, KubernetesClientEnv(t)...)
diff --git a/test/e2e/framework/framework.go b/test/e2e/framework/framework.go
index 68901ce3a44..3e6d26b9831 100644
--- a/test/e2e/framework/framework.go
+++ b/test/e2e/framework/framework.go
@@ -114,16 +114,6 @@ func GCSPushCredentialsFlag(t *T) string {
 	return flag("gcs-upload-secret", value)
 }
 
-// ManifestToolCredentialsFlag formats a flag to provide access to push the manifest listed image
-// to the target registry for ci-operator, failing if the required env is not present to supply it.
-func ManifestToolCredentialsFlag(t *T) string {
-	value, set := os.LookupEnv("MANIFEST_TOOL_SECRET")
-	if !set {
-		t.Fatal("required environment MANIFEST_TOOL_SECRET is not set")
-	}
-	return flag("manifest-tool-dockercfg", value)
-}
-
 // LocalRegistryDNSFlag formats a flag for the targeted image registry DNS for ci-operator,
 // failing if the required env is not present to supply it.
 func LocalRegistryDNSFlag(t *T) string {