Junglewise Threat Intelligence

CVE-2025-15558: Docker CLI for Windows privilege escalation via uncontrolled search path

CVE-2025-15558 · Severity: high · CVSS 8 · Published 2026-03-04

Technologies: Docker Desktop, Microsoft Windows. Vendors: Go, Docker, Microsoft.

Executive brief

A vulnerability in Docker for Windows allows a low-privileged user to gain higher-level system permissions. The software incorrectly looks for plugin files in a directory that any user can create; by placing a malicious file there, an attacker can trick the system into running their code when a legitimate user or administrator starts Docker. This could lead to a full system takeover or unauthorized access to sensitive data.

Technical details

An uncontrolled search path vulnerability (CWE-427) exists in the Docker CLI for Windows and the 'cli-plugins/manager' Go package. The application attempts to load plugin binaries (such as docker-compose.exe) from 'C:\ProgramData\Docker\cli-plugins', a directory that does not exist by default and can be created by low-privileged users. If an attacker creates this directory and populates it with malicious executables, those binaries will be executed when a victim user invokes Docker CLI features or opens Docker Desktop. If the Docker CLI is run with elevated privileges, this results in local privilege escalation (LPE). The issue is fixed in Docker CLI version 29.2.0 and Docker Desktop 4.39.0.

Affected products

  • Docker Docker CLI through 29.1.5
  • Docker Docker Desktop through 4.38.0
  • Docker Docker Compose All versions using affected cli-plugins/manager package

Timeline

  • 2025-10-16: disclosed: Vulnerability reported to vendor
  • 2025-12-18: patched: Fix merged into Docker CLI master branch
  • 2026-03-04: advisory: Initial public disclosure

References

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