The leak came as Obama flew to Bagram airbase in an unannounced visit. The CIA officer was identified as "Chief of Station" in Kabul on a list of names the president would meet.
It was eventually mailed to the White House "press pool'' email distribution list, which includes as many as 6,000 recipients.
The Washington Post said the White House originally issued its correspondent with the list containing the error. He was travelling as the "pool" reporter and was obliged to forward that list to the "press pool".
A revised list deleting the CIA man's name was released after the White House realised the mistake. Major news organisations agreed not to publish the officer's name.
The whereabouts of the CIA officer is unknown.