Docker CLI: Uncontrolled Search Path Element
CVE-2025-15558 is a high-severity uncontrolled search path element vulnerability in Docker CLI from Docker, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.0 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with a low-privileged account, but only if a user takes part, for example by opening a link or file. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.55% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Check which version of Docker CLI you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
- Because the attack needs a user to take part, warn users about unexpected links and files related to this product until it is patched.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Docker | Docker CLI | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Docker | Compose | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | Assisted Installer for Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 2 | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | Builds for Red Hat OpenShift | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | Gatekeeper 3 | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | Kernel Module Management Operator for Red Hat Openshift | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | Machine Deletion Remediation Operator | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | Multicluster Engine for Kubernetes | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | Multicluster Global Hub | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | OpenShift Pipelines | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | OpenShift Serverless | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | OpenShift Service Mesh 2 | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | OpenShift Service Mesh 3 | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Advanced Cluster Management for Kubernetes 2 | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Advanced Cluster Security 4 | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | Red Hat OpenShift AI (RHOAI) | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | Red Hat OpenShift Dev Spaces | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | Red Hat OpenShift for Windows Containers | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | Red Hat OpenShift GitOps | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | Red Hat OpenShift Virtualization 4 | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | Red Hat OpenStack Platform 16.2 | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | Red Hat OpenStack Platform 17.1 | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | Red Hat OpenStack Platform 18.0 | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Quay 3 | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE; 5 further products are omitted here. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- LowA basic user account is enough.
- User interaction
- RequiredA user must take an action such as opening a file or link.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 4.0 | 7.0 | High | CNA (docker.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 8.0 | High | NVD |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.3 | High | CNA |
Official 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.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Uncontrolled Search Path Element
The product uses a fixed or controlled search path to find resources, but one or more locations in that path can be under the control of unintended actors.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Hard-code the search path to a set of known-safe values (such as system directories), or only allow them to be specified by the administrator in a configuration file. Do not allow these settings to be modified by an external party. Be careful to avoid related weaknesses such as CWE-426 and CWE-428.
- When invoking other programs, specify those programs using fully-qualified pathnames. While this is an effective approach, code that uses fully-qualified pathnames might not be portable to other systems that do not use the same pathnames. The portability can be improved by locating the full-qualified paths in a centralized, easily-modifiable location within the source code, and having the code refer to these paths.
- Remove or restrict all environment settings before invoking other programs. This includes the PATH environment variable, LD_LIBRARY_PATH, and other settings that identify the location of code libraries, and any application-specific search paths.
More Uncontrolled Search Path Element vulnerabilities (CWE-427)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Patches and release notes
- docs.docker.com/desktop/release-notes/Release Notes
- github.com/docker/cli/pull/6713Issue Tracking
Other references
Other vulnerabilities in Docker CLI
- 7.1 High severity
Recent Uncontrolled Search Path Element vulnerabilities
- 7.8 High severity
- 8.4 High severity
- 7.3 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.3 High severity
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