Vulnerability-Lookup

GHSA-P436-GJF2-799P

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-03-05 00:10 – Updated: 2026-03-05 00:10

Summary

Docker CLI Plugins: Uncontrolled Search Path Element Leads to Local Privilege Escalation on Windows

Details

This issue affects Docker CLI through 29.1.5

Impact

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 v29.1.5 (fixed in v29.2.0). It impacts Windows binaries acting as a CLI plugin manager via the github.com/docker/cli/cli-plugins/manager package, which is consumed by downstream projects such as Docker Compose.

Docker Compose became affected starting in v2.31.0, when it incorporated the relevant CLI plugin manager code (see https://github.com/docker/compose/pull/12300), and is fixed in v5.1.0.

This issue does not impact non-Windows binaries or projects that do not use the plugin manager code.

Patches

Fixed version starts with 29.2.0

This issue was fixed in https://github.com/docker/cli/commit/13759330b1f7e7cb0d67047ea42c5482548ba7fa (https://github.com/docker/cli/pull/6713), which removed %PROGRAMDATA%\Docker\cli-plugins from the list of paths used for plugin-discovery on Windows.

Workarounds

None

Resources

Pull request: "cli-plugins/manager: remove legacy system-wide cli-plugin path" (https://github.com/docker/cli/pull/6713)
Patch: https://github.com/docker/cli/commit/13759330b1f7e7cb0d67047ea42c5482548ba7fa.patch

Credits

Nitesh Surana (niteshsurana.com) of Trend Research of TrendAI

Severity ?

7.0 (High)


                  
                    CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Show details on source website

JSON

To clipboard

{
  "affected": [
    {
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "Go",
        "name": "github.com/docker/cli"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "19.03.0"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "29.2.0"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "Go",
        "name": "github.com/docker/compose/v2"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "2.31.0"
            },
            {
              "last_affected": "2.40.3"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "Go",
        "name": "github.com/docker/compose/v5"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "0"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "5.1.0"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2025-15558"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-427"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": true,
    "github_reviewed_at": "2026-03-05T00:10:40Z",
    "nvd_published_at": "2026-03-04T17:16:14Z",
    "severity": "HIGH"
  },
  "details": "This issue affects Docker CLI through 29.1.5\n\n### Impact\n\nDocker 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.\n\nThis issue affects Docker CLI through v29.1.5 (fixed in v29.2.0). It impacts Windows binaries acting as a CLI plugin manager via the [`github.com/docker/cli/cli-plugins/manager`](https://pkg.go.dev/github.com/docker/cli@v29.1.5+incompatible/cli-plugins/manager) package, which is consumed by downstream projects such as Docker Compose.\n\nDocker Compose became affected starting in v2.31.0, when it incorporated the relevant CLI plugin manager code (see https://github.com/docker/compose/pull/12300), and is fixed in v5.1.0.\n\nThis issue does not impact non-Windows binaries or projects that do not use the plugin manager code.\n\n### Patches\n\nFixed version starts with 29.2.0\n\nThis issue was fixed in https://github.com/docker/cli/commit/13759330b1f7e7cb0d67047ea42c5482548ba7fa (https://github.com/docker/cli/pull/6713), which removed `%PROGRAMDATA%\\Docker\\cli-plugins` from the list of paths used for plugin-discovery on Windows.\n\n### Workarounds\n\nNone\n\n### Resources\n\n- Pull request: \"cli-plugins/manager: remove legacy system-wide cli-plugin path\" (https://github.com/docker/cli/pull/6713)\n- Patch: https://github.com/docker/cli/commit/13759330b1f7e7cb0d67047ea42c5482548ba7fa.patch\n\n### Credits\n\nNitesh Surana (niteshsurana.com) of Trend Research of TrendAI",
  "id": "GHSA-p436-gjf2-799p",
  "modified": "2026-03-05T00:10:40Z",
  "published": "2026-03-05T00:10:40Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/docker/cli/security/advisories/GHSA-p436-gjf2-799p"
    },
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-15558"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/docker/cli/pull/6713"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/docker/compose/pull/12300"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/docker/cli/commit/13759330b1f7e7cb0d67047ea42c5482548ba7fa"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://docs.docker.com/desktop/release-notes"
    },
    {
      "type": "PACKAGE",
      "url": "https://github.com/docker/cli"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-CAN-28304"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N",
      "type": "CVSS_V4"
    }
  ],
  "summary": "Docker CLI Plugins: Uncontrolled Search Path Element Leads to Local Privilege Escalation on Windows"
}

CVE-2025-15558 (GCVE-0-2025-15558)

Vulnerability from cvelistv5 – Published: 2026-03-04 16:14 – Updated: 2026-03-05 04:55

Title

Docker Desktop Docker Plugins Uncontrolled Search Path Element Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Summary

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/cli@v29.1.5+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.

Severity ?

7 (High)


                        
                          CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/AU:N/R:U

CWE

CWE-427 - Uncontrolled Search Path Element

Assigner

Docker

References

URL

Tags

	https://docs.docker.com/desktop/release-notes/
	https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-…	third-party-advisory
	https://github.com/docker/cli/pull/6713	patch

Impacted products

Vendor

Product

Version

Docker

Docker CLI

Unaffected: 29.2.0 (semver)

Docker

Compose

Unaffected: 5.1.0 (semver)

Credits

Nitesh Surana (niteshsurana.com) of Trend Research of TrendAI

Show details on NVD website

JSON

To clipboard

{
  "containers": {
    "adp": [
      {
        "metrics": [
          {
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                "id": "CVE-2025-15558",
                "options": [
                  {
                    "Exploitation": "none"
                  },
                  {
                    "Automatable": "no"
                  },
                  {
                    "Technical Impact": "total"
                  }
                ],
                "role": "CISA Coordinator",
                "timestamp": "2026-03-04T00:00:00+00:00",
                "version": "2.0.3"
              },
              "type": "ssvc"
            }
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        ],
        "providerMetadata": {
          "dateUpdated": "2026-03-05T04:55:47.099Z",
          "orgId": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
          "shortName": "CISA-ADP"
        },
        "title": "CISA ADP Vulnrichment"
      }
    ],
    "cna": {
      "affected": [
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          "defaultStatus": "affected",
          "platforms": [
            "Windows"
          ],
          "product": "Docker CLI",
          "vendor": "Docker",
          "versions": [
            {
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              "version": "29.2.0",
              "versionType": "semver"
            }
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        },
        {
          "defaultStatus": "unaffected",
          "platforms": [
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          ],
          "product": "Compose",
          "vendor": "Docker",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "unaffected",
              "version": "5.1.0",
              "versionType": "semver"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "credits": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "type": "finder",
          "value": "Nitesh Surana (niteshsurana.com) of Trend Research of TrendAI"
        }
      ],
      "descriptions": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "supportingMedia": [
            {
              "base64": false,
              "type": "text/html",
              "value": "\u003cp\u003eDocker CLI for Windows searches for plugin binaries in \u003ccode\u003eC:\\ProgramData\\Docker\\cli-plugins\u003c/code\u003e, 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 \u003ccode\u003edocker\u003c/code\u003e\u0026nbsp;CLI is executed as a privileged user.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis issue affects Docker CLI: through 29.1.5 and Windows binaries acting as a CLI-plugin manager using the \u003ca target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://pkg.go.dev/github.com/docker/cli@v29.1.5+incompatible/cli-plugins/manager\"\u003e\u003ccode\u003egithub.com/docker/cli/cli-plugins/manager\u003c/code\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u0026nbsp;package, such as Docker Compose.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis issue does not impact non-Windows binaries, and projects not using the plugin-manager code.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e"
            }
          ],
          "value": "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\u00a0CLI is executed as a privileged user.\n\nThis 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/cli@v29.1.5+incompatible/cli-plugins/manager \u00a0package, such as Docker Compose.\n\nThis issue does not impact non-Windows binaries, and projects not using the plugin-manager code."
        }
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      "impacts": [
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          "capecId": "CAPEC-38",
          "descriptions": [
            {
              "lang": "en",
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          ]
        },
        {
          "capecId": "CAPEC-471",
          "descriptions": [
            {
              "lang": "en",
              "value": "CAPEC-471 Search Order Hijacking"
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          ]
        },
        {
          "capecId": "CAPEC-640",
          "descriptions": [
            {
              "lang": "en",
              "value": "CAPEC-640 Inclusion of Code in Existing Process"
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      ],
      "metrics": [
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            "Recovery": "USER",
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            "version": "4.0",
            "vulnAvailabilityImpact": "HIGH",
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      "references": [
        {
          "url": "https://docs.docker.com/desktop/release-notes/"
        },
        {
          "tags": [
            "third-party-advisory"
          ],
          "url": "https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-CAN-28304/"
        },
        {
          "tags": [
            "patch"
          ],
          "url": "https://github.com/docker/cli/pull/6713"
        }
      ],
      "source": {
        "discovery": "EXTERNAL"
      },
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  "cveMetadata": {
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    "datePublished": "2026-03-04T16:14:32.045Z",
    "dateReserved": "2026-02-03T19:51:18.184Z",
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    "state": "PUBLISHED"
  },
  "dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
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}

Sightings

Author	Source	Type	Date

Nomenclature

Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or observed by the user.
Confirmed: The vulnerability has been validated from an analyst's perspective.
Published Proof of Concept: A public proof of concept is available for this vulnerability.
Exploited: The vulnerability was observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
Patched: The vulnerability was observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
Not exploited: The vulnerability was not observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
Not confirmed: The user expressed doubt about the validity of the vulnerability.
Not patched: The vulnerability was not observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.

Detection rules are retrieved from Rulezet.

Action not permitted

GHSA-P436-GJF2-799P

Impact

Patches

Workarounds

Resources

Credits

CVE-2025-15558 (GCVE-0-2025-15558)

Tags

Sightings

Nomenclature