CVE-2025-15558

Docker Desktop Docker Plugins Uncontrolled Search Path Element Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Published Mar 4, 2026 CVSS 4.0 · 7 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
Docker CLI for Windows searches for plugin binaries in C:\ProgramData\Docker\cli-plugins, a directory that does not exist by default. A low-privileged attacker can create this directory and place malicious CLI plugin binaries (docker-compose.exe, docker-buildx.exe, etc.) that are executed when a victim user opens Docker Desktop or invokes Docker CLI plugin features, and allow privilege-escalation if the docker CLI is executed as a privileged user.

This issue affects Docker CLI: through 29.1.5 and Windows binaries acting as a CLI-plugin manager using the github.com/docker/cli/cli-plugins/manager https://pkg.go.dev/github.com/docker/cli@v29.1.5+incompatible/cli-plugins/manager  package, such as Docker Compose.

This issue does not impact non-Windows binaries, and projects not using the plugin-manager code.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Github GHSA Github GHSA GHSA-p436-gjf2-799p Docker CLI Plugins: Uncontrolled Search Path Element Leads to Local Privilege Escalation on Windows
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Docker command Line Interface
Microsoft
Microsoft windows
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:docker:command_line_interface:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Docker command Line Interface
Microsoft
Microsoft windows
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.3, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

cvssV3_1

{'score': 8.0, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.3, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

threat_severity

Important

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Docker
Docker composer
Docker docker
Vendors & Products Docker
Docker composer
Docker docker
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Docker CLI for Windows searches for plugin binaries in C:\ProgramData\Docker\cli-plugins, a directory that does not exist by default. A low-privileged attacker can create this directory and place malicious CLI plugin binaries (docker-compose.exe, docker-buildx.exe, etc.) that are executed when a victim user opens Docker Desktop or invokes Docker CLI plugin features, and allow privilege-escalation if the docker CLI is executed as a privileged user. This issue affects Docker CLI: through 29.1.5 and Windows binaries acting as a CLI-plugin manager using the github.com/docker/cli/cli-plugins/manager https://pkg.go.dev/github.com/docker/cli@v29.1.5+incompatible/cli-plugins/manager  package, such as Docker Compose. This issue does not impact non-Windows binaries, and projects not using the plugin-manager code.
Title Docker Desktop Docker Plugins Uncontrolled Search Path Element Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
Weaknesses CWE-427
References
Metrics cvssV4_0

{'score': 7, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/AU:N/R:U'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
Docker
Published
Updated
Jul 15, 2026, 1:26 AM
Reserved
Feb 3, 2026, 7:51 PM
Status
Modified
Published
Mar 4, 2026, 5:16 PM
Modified
Jul 15, 2026, 2:17 AM
Severity
Important
Public date
Mar 4, 2026, 4:14 PM