Quick answer
Direct answer
Risk scores
| CVSS metric | What it means |
|---|---|
| Attack vector (AV:N) | Network: reachable remotely |
| Attack complexity (AC:L) | Low complexity |
| Privileges required (PR:L) | Low privileges required |
| User interaction (UI:R) | A user must take an action |
| Scope (S:C) | Scope changed: impact spreads beyond the component |
| Confidentiality (C:H) | High confidentiality impact |
| Integrity (I:H) | High integrity impact |
| Availability (A:H) | High availability impact |
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
About Dokku
CVE-2026-45406 affects Dokku, a product from Dokku. Before acting, confirm where Dokku runs in your estate, who owns it and whether it is reachable from the internet, because exposure decides real risk more than the score alone.
What the flaw is
In plain terms: Dokku is a docker-powered PaaS. Prior to 0.38.2, the openresty-vhosts plugin copies files from an app's openresty/http-includes/ git repository directory to the host and then interpolates their filenames, unescaped, into a single-quoted shell string that is later parsed by eval. A filename containing a single quote breaks the quoting and allows command substitution to execute arbitrary commands on the host as the dokku user during the app's next deploy. This vulnerability is fixed in 0.38.2.
Based on its CVSS vector, the flaw can be reached over the network, needs some level of access, and relies on a user taking an action. Apply the vendor fix and confirm exposure on internet facing and business critical assets first.
Affected versions and timeline
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Product | Dokku |
| Affected versions | Dokku before 0.38.2 |
| Published | Jun 26, 2026 |
| Last modified | Jun 26, 2026 |
| Added to CISA KEV | Not listed |
| Assigning CNA | security-advisories@github.com |
How to detect it
- Inventory every instance of Dokku and record the running version against the affected range above.
- Check external attack surface scans for internet facing instances of the component.
- Review logs on affected systems for unusual requests, errors or new processes around the vulnerable function.
- Confirm with an authenticated vulnerability scan once your scanner has a check for this CVE.
How to fix it
- Apply the fixed version of Dokku named in the vendor advisory.
- If patching must wait, restrict network access to the affected service and put it behind authentication or a web application firewall rule.
- Rescan after the change to prove the exposure is gone, then close the ticket.
CTEM action plan
| CTEM stage | What to do for this CVE |
|---|---|
| Scope | Add every business service that depends on Dokku to the current CTEM cycle. |
| Discover | Find all instances, including shadow and cloud deployments, and record versions and exposure. |
| Prioritize | Rank using EPSS and CVSS together with asset exposure and business impact. |
| Validate | Confirm the flaw is reachable and exploitable in your environment and that compensating controls work. |
| Mobilize | Assign the fix to the asset owner with a due date matched to the priority, then verify closure. |
CWE References
Technical References
Frequently asked questions
Related CVEs
Dokku is a docker-powered PaaS. Prior to 0.38.7, the cron plugin utilizes commands in the app.json file to manage system cron running as the Dokku user. An app.json cron command utilizing special shell characters - including, but not limited to, > or ; - can break out of the Docker container and execute commands on the host as the Dokku user. This vulnerability is fixed in 0.38.7.
Dokku is a docker-powered PaaS. Prior to 0.38.2, the git:from-archive and certs:add commands extract user-supplied tar/zip archives into temporary directories without sanitizing member paths or preventing symlink traversal. GNU tar creates symlinks during extraction and follows them for subsequent entries, allowing an attacker to write arbitrary files anywhere writable by the dokku user — including overwriting ~/.ssh/authorized_keys to gain unrestricted shell access. This vulnerability is fixed in 0.38.2.
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