CVE-2026-6406

Docker Desktop Enhanced Container Isolation bypass via --use-api-socket CLI flag

HIGH
8.8
CVSS Score
Published: May 22, 2026 at 06:32 PM UTC
Updated: July 23, 2026 at 07:32 PM UTC
2 products affected across 1 vendorDocker DesktopDesktop· also runs on 3 platforms

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Severity
HIGH8.8
Exploit prediction
EPSS 0.2%
SSVC
No known exploit

Description

The Docker CLI --use-api-socket flag bypasses Enhanced Container Isolation (ECI) restrictions in Docker Desktop. When ECI is enabled, Docker socket mounts from containers are denied unless explicitly allowed via the admin-settings configuration. However, the --use-api-socket flag adds the Docker socket mount via the HostConfig.Mounts field rather than the HostConfig.Binds field. The ECI enforcement in the Docker Desktop API proxy only inspected Binds, allowing the mount to pass unchecked. This grants a container full access to the Docker Engine socket and, if the host user has logged in to container registries, their authentication credentials. A local attacker with the ability to run Docker CLI commands can exploit this to escape ECI restrictions, access the Docker Engine, and potentially escalate privileges.

Affected

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

4.41.0 ≤ v < 4.59.04.41.0
Affected range stops below 4.59.0, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
4.41.0 ≤ v < 4.59.0
Affected range stops below 4.59.0, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
apple-macos (environment) · linux-linux-kernel (environment) · microsoft-windows (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 (2)

SSVC — Action Prioritization

SSVCNo known exploitNot automatableTotal impact

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

CVSS

8.8HIGHDocker
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusANALYZED
CWE
CWE-863

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