Docker Desktop

Docker Desktop for Windows contains multiple incorrect permission assignment vulnerabilities in the installer's handling of the C:\ProgramData\DockerDesktop directory. The installer creates this directory without proper ownership verification, creating two exploitation scenarios: Scenario 1 (Persistent Attack): If a low-privileged attacker pre-creates C:\ProgramData\DockerDesktop before Docker Desktop installation, the attacker retains ownership of the directory even after the installer applies restrictive ACLs. At any time after installation completes, the attacker can modify the directory ACL (as the owner) and tamper with critical configuration files such as install-settings.json to specify a malicious credentialHelper, causing arbitrary code execution when any user runs Docker Desktop. Scenario 2 (TOCTOU Attack): During installation, there is a time-of-check-time-of-use (TOCTOU) race condition between when the installer creates C:\ProgramData\DockerDesktop and when it sets secure ACLs. A low-privileged attacker actively monitoring for the installation can inject malicious files (such as install-settings.json) with attacker-controlled ACLs during this window, achieving the same code execution outcome.

Published: 2026-02-04T13:57:23.002Z
Updated: 2026-02-26T15:04:21.122Z

In Docker Desktop before v4.29.0, an attacker who has gained access to the Docker Desktop VM through a container breakout can further escape to the host by passing extensions and dashboard related IPC messages. Docker Desktop v4.29.0 https://docs.docker.com/desktop/release-notes/#4290 fixes the issue on MacOS, Linux and Windows with Hyper-V backend. As exploitation requires "Allow only extensions distributed through the Docker Marketplace" to be disabled, Docker Desktop  v4.31.0 https://docs.docker.com/desktop/release-notes/#4310  additionally changes the default configuration to enable this setting by default.

Published: 2024-07-09T17:16:05.646Z
Updated: 2024-08-01T21:33:05.292Z

In Docker Desktop on Windows before v4.31.0 allows a user in the docker-users group to cause a Windows Denial-of-Service through the exec-path Docker daemon config option in Windows containers mode.

Published: 2024-07-09T17:07:08.691Z
Updated: 2025-03-19T15:47:03.640Z

Docker Desktop before 4.23.0 allows Access Token theft via a crafted extension icon URL. This issue affects Docker Desktop: before 4.23.0.

Published: 2023-09-25T15:30:10.164Z
Updated: 2024-09-24T15:54:17.938Z

Docker Desktop before 4.23.0 allows an unprivileged user to bypass Enhanced Container Isolation (ECI) restrictions via the debug shell which remains accessible for a short time window after launching Docker Desktop. The affected functionality is available for Docker Business customers only and assumes an environment where users are not granted local root or Administrator privileges. This issue has been fixed in Docker Desktop 4.23.0. Affected Docker Desktop versions: from 4.13.0 before 4.23.0.

Published: 2023-09-25T15:29:12.869Z
Updated: 2024-09-24T15:55:38.645Z