CVE-2026-5843

Docker Model Runner container-to-host code execution via MLX-LM model_file importlib loading

HIGH
8.6
CVSS Score
Published: May 22, 2026 at 07:28 PM UTC
Updated: July 23, 2026 at 07:32 PM UTC
2 products affected across 1 vendorDocker DesktopDesktop· also runs on 1 platform

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Severity
HIGH8.6
Exploit prediction
EPSS 0.2%
SSVC
No known exploit

Description

The MLX inference backend in Docker Model Runner on macOS uses the MLX-LM library, which unconditionally imports and executes arbitrary Python files from model directories via the model_file configuration field in config.json. When a model's config.json specifies a model_file pointing to a Python file, MLX-LM uses importlib to load and execute it with no trust_remote_code gate or equivalent safety check. The MLX backend runs without sandboxing, resulting in arbitrary code execution on the Docker host as the Docker Desktop user. Any container on the Docker network can trigger this by calling the model-runner.docker.internal API to pull a malicious model from an attacker-controlled OCI registry and request inference.

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

4.56.0 ≤ v < 4.71.04.56.0
Affected range stops below 4.71.0, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
4.56.0 ≤ v < 4.71.0
Affected range stops below 4.71.0, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
apple-macos (environment)

Runs on — not affected

The affected product only carries this flaw when running on these platforms. The platforms themselves are not vulnerable.

Remediation

No guide yet

No remediation guidance has been written for this CVE yet, and no fixed version or vendor advisory is recorded against it.

References (1)

SSVC — Action Prioritization

SSVCNo known exploitNot automatableTotal impact

SSVC signals action urgency (what to patch first), separate from CVSS which measures severity.

CVSS

Attack Vector
LOCAL
Complexity
LOW
Privileges
NONE
User Interaction
REQUIRED
Scope
CHANGED
Confidentiality
HIGH
Integrity
HIGH
Availability
HIGH
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusANALYZED
CWE
CWE-829

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