# CVE-2026-53988: Dockhand authentication bypass in git webhook endpoints

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-53988-dockhand-before-1-0-40-contains-an-authentication-bypass  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-09-29. Updated: 2026-09-29  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-53988 · Severity: critical · CVSS 10 · Published 2026-09-29

Dockhand is a container management platform that orchestrates Docker deployments via git webhooks. Versions before 1.0.40 fail to properly validate webhook signatures, allowing attackers to trigger unauthorized container redeployments without credentials. An attacker can force malicious code execution within containers, leading to host compromise and data breach.

Technologies: [Finsys Dockhand](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/dockhand). Vendors: [Finsys](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/finsys).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-53988 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-53988 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-53988?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 10, published 29 September 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Finsys Dockhand before 1.0.40.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-53988?** A patch was published on 2026-07-31: v1.0.40 released with webhook secret requirement Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-53988 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a hosted service.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-53988?** Check whether you run Finsys Dockhand at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Technical details

The vulnerability exploits a null webhook secret guard condition in git webhook endpoints, allowing unauthenticated POST requests to trigger stack redeployments. Attackers enumerate sequential stack IDs and send unsigned webhook payloads to force git clone and docker-compose operations; combined with write access to the tracked git repository, an attacker can inject a malicious docker-compose.yml with privileged bind mounts to achieve container escape and host-level code execution.

## Affected products

- Finsys Dockhand before 1.0.40

## Timeline

- 2026-09-29: disclosed
- 2026-07-31: patched: v1.0.40 released with webhook secret requirement

## References

- [https://github.com/Finsys/dockhand/releases/tag/v1.0.40](https://github.com/Finsys/dockhand/releases/tag/v1.0.40)
- [https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/dockhand-unauthenticated-webhook-trigger-via-git-webhook-endpoints](https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/dockhand-unauthenticated-webhook-trigger-via-git-webhook-endpoints)

## Related threats

- [Dockhand Git-stack webhook plaintext secret disclosure](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-121449-dockhand-from-1-0-47-before-1-0-54-exposes-plaintext-stack)
- [Dockhand path traversal in environment routes](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-121448-dockhand-before-1-0-54-contains-a-path-traversal-vulnerability)
- [Dockhand arbitrary file read via path traversal](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-113354-dockhand-before-1-0-46-contains-an-arbitrary-file-read)
- [Dockhand authentication bypass in container terminal endpoint](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-57169-dockhand-is-a-docker-management-application-prior-to-1-0-34-the)
- [Finsys Dockhand response-disclosing SSRF in compose template endpoint](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-110255-finsys-dockhand-before-1-0-43-contains-a-response-disclosing)