CVE-2025-15558
Docker Desktop Docker Plugins Uncontrolled Search Path Element Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
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/[email protected]+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.
INFO
Published Date :
March 4, 2026, 5:16 p.m.
Last Modified :
March 9, 2026, 5:38 p.m.
Remotely Exploit :
Yes !
Source :
[email protected]
Affected Products
The following products are affected by CVE-2025-15558
vulnerability.
Even if cvefeed.io is aware of the exact versions of the
products
that
are
affected, the information is not represented in the table below.
CVSS Scores
| Score | Version | Severity | Vector | Exploitability Score | Impact Score | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | HIGH | [email protected] | ||||
| CVSS 4.0 | HIGH | 686469e6-3ff6-451b-ab8b-cf5b9e89401e | ||||
| CVSS 4.0 | HIGH | [email protected] |
Solution
- Update Docker CLI to a version later than 29.1.5.
- Ensure the cli-plugins directory is not world-writable.
- Review and secure Docker Desktop installation.
Public PoC/Exploit Available at Github
CVE-2025-15558 has a 2 public
PoC/Exploit available at Github.
Go to the Public Exploits tab to see the list.
References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools
Here, you will find a curated list of external links that provide in-depth
information, practical solutions, and valuable tools related to
CVE-2025-15558.
| URL | Resource |
|---|---|
| https://docs.docker.com/desktop/release-notes/ | Release Notes |
| https://github.com/docker/cli/pull/6713 | Issue Tracking Patch |
| https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-CAN-28304/ | Not Applicable |
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration
While CVE identifies
specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or
weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2025-15558 is
associated with the following CWEs:
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification
(CAPEC)
stores attack patterns, which are descriptions of the common attributes and
approaches employed by adversaries to exploit the CVE-2025-15558
weaknesses.
We scan GitHub repositories to detect new proof-of-concept exploits. Following list is a collection of public exploits and proof-of-concepts, which have been published on GitHub (sorted by the most recently updated).
Docker wrapper for the GitHub CLI (gh)
Dockerfile Shell
All Public RunWhen Helm Charts - Managed by terraform
Shell Dockerfile Go Template
Results are limited to the first 15 repositories due to potential performance issues.
The following list is the news that have been mention
CVE-2025-15558 vulnerability anywhere in the article.
The following table lists the changes that have been made to the
CVE-2025-15558 vulnerability over time.
Vulnerability history details can be useful for understanding the evolution of a vulnerability, and for identifying the most recent changes that may impact the vulnerability's severity, exploitability, or other characteristics.
-
Initial Analysis by [email protected]
Mar. 09, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added CVSS V3.1 AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H Added CPE Configuration AND OR *cpe:2.3:a:docker:command_line_interface:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions up to (including) 29.1.5 OR cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Added Reference Type Docker Inc.: https://docs.docker.com/desktop/release-notes/ Types: Release Notes Added Reference Type Docker Inc.: https://github.com/docker/cli/pull/6713 Types: Issue Tracking, Patch Added Reference Type Docker Inc.: https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-CAN-28304/ Types: Not Applicable -
New CVE Received by [email protected]
Mar. 04, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value 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/[email protected]+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. Added CVSS V4.0 AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:N/R:U/V:X/RE:X/U:X Added CWE CWE-427 Added Reference https://docs.docker.com/desktop/release-notes/ Added Reference https://github.com/docker/cli/pull/6713 Added Reference https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-CAN-28304/