dockhand: Missing Authentication for Critical Functionality
CVE-2026-57169 is a critical-severity missing authentication for critical functionality vulnerability in dockhand from Finsys, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.6 out of 10. It can be exploited from the same local network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected dockhand versions: < 1.0.34. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.3% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.
What to do
- Check which version of dockhand you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
- Read the advisory on github.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
Affected products and versions
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
- AdjacentThe attacker must be on the same local network segment.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- ChangedThe attack can reach beyond the vulnerable component into other systems.
- 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:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CNA (github.com).
Official description
Dockhand is a Docker management application. Prior to 1.0.34, the in-browser container terminal endpoint /api/containers/<id>/exec does not enforce authentication on the WebSocket upgrade request. When an unauthenticated attacker has network reach to Dockhand, knows a target container ID, and targets a container with an interactive shell, the attacker can open a raw WebSocket terminal session and execute commands inside a known target container. This allows unauthenticated command execution inside the container, with possible host compromise when the container has sensitive mounts or privileged execution. This issue is fixed in version 1.0.34.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Missing Authentication for Critical Functionality
The product does not perform any authentication for functionality that requires a provable user identity or consumes a significant amount of resources.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- For any security checks that are performed on the client side, ensure that these checks are duplicated on the server side, in order to avoid CWE-602. Attackers can bypass the client-side checks by modifying values after the checks have been performed, or by changing the client to remove the client-side checks entirely. Then, these modified values would be submitted to the server.
- Use a vetted library or framework that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid. For example, consider using libraries with authentication capabilities such as OpenSSL or the ESAPI Authenticator.
- When storing data in the cloud (e.g., S3 buckets, Azure blobs, Google Cloud Storage, etc.), use the provider's controls to require strong authentication for users who should be allowed to access the data.
More Missing Authentication for Critical Functionality vulnerabilities (CWE-306)
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
Other vulnerabilities in dockhand
- 8.3 High severity
- 8.3 High severity
- 8.5 High severity
- 10.0 Critical severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 10.0 Critical severity
Recent Missing Authentication for Critical Functionality vulnerabilities
- 7.5 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 7.0 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 8.6 High severity
- 7.3 High severity
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