CVE-2026-6406
Docker Desktop Enhanced Container Isolation bypass via --use-api-socket CLI flag
Description
The Docker CLI --use-api-socket flag bypasses Enhanced Container Isolation (ECI) restrictions in Docker Desktop. When ECI is enabled, Docker socket mounts from containers are denied unless explicitly allowed via the admin-settings configuration. However, the --use-api-socket flag adds the Docker socket mount via the HostConfig.Mounts field rather than the HostConfig.Binds field. The ECI enforcement in the Docker Desktop API proxy only inspected Binds, allowing the mount to pass unchecked. This grants a container full access to the Docker Engine socket and, if the host user has logged in to container registries, their authentication credentials. A local attacker with the ability to run Docker CLI commands can exploit this to escape ECI restrictions, access the Docker Engine, and potentially escalate privileges.
INFO
Published Date :
May 22, 2026, 7:17 p.m.
Last Modified :
May 29, 2026, 7:02 p.m.
Remotely Exploit :
No
Source :
[email protected]
Affected Products
The following products are affected by CVE-2026-6406
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 4.0 | HIGH | 686469e6-3ff6-451b-ab8b-cf5b9e89401e | ||||
| CVSS 4.0 | HIGH | [email protected] |
Solution
- Update Docker Desktop to the latest version.
- Verify ECI restrictions are enforced.
- Remove any unauthorized Docker socket mounts.
- Review host user credentials for registry access.
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-2026-6406.
| URL | Resource |
|---|---|
| https://docs.docker.com/desktop/release-notes/#4590 | Release Notes |
| https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-26-299/ | Third Party Advisory |
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration
While CVE identifies
specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or
weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2026-6406 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-2026-6406
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).
Results are limited to the first 15 repositories due to potential performance issues.
The following list is the news that have been mention
CVE-2026-6406 vulnerability anywhere in the article.
The following table lists the changes that have been made to the
CVE-2026-6406 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]
May. 29, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added CPE Configuration AND OR *cpe:2.3:a:docker:docker_desktop:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 4.41.0 up to (excluding) 4.59.0 OR cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Added Reference Type Docker Inc.: https://docs.docker.com/desktop/release-notes/#4590 Types: Release Notes Added Reference Type Docker Inc.: https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-26-299/ Types: Third Party Advisory -
New CVE Received by [email protected]
May. 22, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Description The Docker CLI --use-api-socket flag bypasses Enhanced Container Isolation (ECI) restrictions in Docker Desktop. When ECI is enabled, Docker socket mounts from containers are denied unless explicitly allowed via the admin-settings configuration. However, the --use-api-socket flag adds the Docker socket mount via the HostConfig.Mounts field rather than the HostConfig.Binds field. The ECI enforcement in the Docker Desktop API proxy only inspected Binds, allowing the mount to pass unchecked. This grants a container full access to the Docker Engine socket and, if the host user has logged in to container registries, their authentication credentials. A local attacker with the ability to run Docker CLI commands can exploit this to escape ECI restrictions, access the Docker Engine, and potentially escalate privileges. 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:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H Added CWE CWE-863 Added Reference https://docs.docker.com/desktop/release-notes/#4590 Added Reference https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-26-299/