Docker Engine: Protection Mechanism Failure
CVE-2026-115538 is a high-severity protection mechanism failure vulnerability in Docker Engine from Docker, with a CVSS 4.0 base score of 7.0 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists version 29.9.3 as the first without the flaw, so updating Docker Engine to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.31% 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
- Update Docker Engine to 29.9.3 or a later version.
- Update Moby to v2.0.0-beta.29 or a later version.
- Read the advisory on github.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Docker | Docker Engine | before 29.9.3 | 29.9.3 |
| Moby | Moby | before v2.0.0-beta.29 | v2.0.0-beta.29 |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. 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.
- Attack requirements
- PresentThe target must be in a specific state or configuration for the attack to work.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Confidentiality (vulnerable system)
- NoneNo loss of confidentiality on the vulnerable system.
- Integrity (vulnerable system)
- NoneNo loss of integrity on the vulnerable system.
- Availability (vulnerable system)
- NoneNo loss of availability on the vulnerable system.
- Confidentiality (other systems)
- HighSerious loss of confidentiality on systems beyond the vulnerable one.
- Integrity (other systems)
- HighSerious loss of integrity on systems beyond the vulnerable one.
- Availability (other systems)
- LowLimited loss of availability on systems beyond the vulnerable one.
Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:N/SC:H/SI:H/SA:L/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. Scored by CNA (docker.com).
Official description
Moby's overlay network driver does not restore the iptables rules for encrypted overlay networks after firewalld deletes them. Unlike other Docker Engine networking components, the overlay driver does not handle firewalld reload or start signals over D-Bus. The missing rules cause outgoing VXLAN datagrams to bypass IPsec encryption and remove the protection against incoming cleartext VXLAN traffic. The condition is not logged by dockerd and persists until the encrypted network's last local endpoint is removed and another is added, or dockerd is restarted. Each further firewalld event repeats the condition.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Protection Mechanism Failure
The product does not use or incorrectly uses a protection mechanism that provides sufficient defense against directed attacks against the product.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other vulnerabilities in Docker Engine
- 7.7 High severity
- 7.6 High severity
- 7.1 High severity
Recent Protection Mechanism Failure vulnerabilities
- 8.4 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 8.4 High severity
- 8.4 High severity
- 8.4 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
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