CVE-2026-5843
Docker Model Runner container-to-host code execution via MLX-LM model_file importlib loading
Description
The MLX inference backend in Docker Model Runner on macOS uses the MLX-LM library, which unconditionally imports and executes arbitrary Python files from model directories via the model_file configuration field in config.json. When a model's config.json specifies a model_file pointing to a Python file, MLX-LM uses importlib to load and execute it with no trust_remote_code gate or equivalent safety check. The MLX backend runs without sandboxing, resulting in arbitrary code execution on the Docker host as the Docker Desktop user. Any container on the Docker network can trigger this by calling the model-runner.docker.internal API to pull a malicious model from an attacker-controlled OCI registry and request inference.
INFO
Published Date :
May 22, 2026, 8:16 p.m.
Last Modified :
June 1, 2026, 6:07 p.m.
Remotely Exploit :
No
Source :
[email protected]
Affected Products
The following products are affected by CVE-2026-5843
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 | 686469e6-3ff6-451b-ab8b-cf5b9e89401e | ||||
| CVSS 3.1 | HIGH | MITRE-CVE | ||||
| CVSS 3.1 | HIGH | [email protected] | ||||
| CVSS 3.1 | HIGH | [email protected] | ||||
| CVSS 4.0 | HIGH | 686469e6-3ff6-451b-ab8b-cf5b9e89401e | ||||
| CVSS 4.0 | HIGH | [email protected] |
Solution
- Validate all model files before loading.
- Implement trust checks for imported code.
- Update MLX-LM library to a secure version.
- Run MLX backend in a sandboxed environment.
Public PoC/Exploit Available at Github
CVE-2026-5843 has a 3 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-2026-5843.
| URL | Resource |
|---|---|
| https://docs.docker.com/desktop/release-notes/#4710 | Release Notes |
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration
While CVE identifies
specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or
weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2026-5843 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-2026-5843
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 Model Runner container-to-host RCE / Escape: A critical vulnerability that allows for container-to-host code execution in the Docker Model Runner MLX / SGLANG / VLLM inference backend.
Python Shell
Docker Container Escape POC via mlx-metal importlib
Python
📡 PoC auto collect from GitHub. ⚠️ Be careful Malware.
security cve exploit poc vulnerability
Results are limited to the first 15 repositories due to potential performance issues.
The following list is the news that have been mention
CVE-2026-5843 vulnerability anywhere in the article.
The following table lists the changes that have been made to the
CVE-2026-5843 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]
Jun. 01, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added CVSS V3.1 AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H Added CPE Configuration AND OR *cpe:2.3:a:docker:docker_desktop:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 4.56.0 up to (excluding) 4.71.0 OR cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Added Reference Type Docker Inc.: https://docs.docker.com/desktop/release-notes/#4710 Types: Release Notes -
New CVE Received by [email protected]
May. 22, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Description The MLX inference backend in Docker Model Runner on macOS uses the MLX-LM library, which unconditionally imports and executes arbitrary Python files from model directories via the model_file configuration field in config.json. When a model's config.json specifies a model_file pointing to a Python file, MLX-LM uses importlib to load and execute it with no trust_remote_code gate or equivalent safety check. The MLX backend runs without sandboxing, resulting in arbitrary code execution on the Docker host as the Docker Desktop user. Any container on the Docker network can trigger this by calling the model-runner.docker.internal API to pull a malicious model from an attacker-controlled OCI registry and request inference. Added CVSS V4.0 AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H/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:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X Added CVSS V3.1 AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H Added CWE CWE-829 Added Reference https://docs.docker.com/desktop/release-notes/#4710