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CVE-2026-5843: Docker Desktop Security Vulnerability (CVSS 8.8)

CVE-2026-5843 is a high severity security vulnerability in Docker Desktop with a CVSS score of 8.8. Apply the vendor fix and confirm exposure on internet facing and business critical assets first.

Last updated: Jul 23, 2026

Quick answer

Direct answer

CVE-2026-5843 is a high severity security vulnerability in Docker Desktop with a CVSS score of 8.8. Apply the vendor fix and confirm exposure on internet facing and business critical assets first.

Risk scores

CVSS base score
8.8HIGH
EPSS probability
0.18%
Higher than 7 percent of all CVEs
CISA KEV
Not listed
CVSS metricWhat it means
Attack vector (AV:L)Local access needed
Attack complexity (AC:L)Low complexity
Attack requirements (AT:P)Attack requirements present
Privileges required (PR:L)Low privileges required
User interaction (UI:N)No user interaction
Confidentiality (VC:H)High confidentiality impact
Integrity (VI:H)High integrity impact
Availability (VA:H)High availability impact

CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X

About Docker Desktop

CVE-2026-5843 affects Docker Desktop, a product from Docker. Before acting, confirm where Docker Desktop 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: 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.

Based on its CVSS vector, the flaw needs local or adjacent access, needs some level of access, and needs no user interaction. Apply the vendor fix and confirm exposure on internet facing and business critical assets first.

Affected versions and timeline

FieldDetail
ProductDocker Desktop
Affected versionsDocker Desktop from 4.56.0 before 4.71.0
PublishedMay 22, 2026
Last modifiedJul 23, 2026
Added to CISA KEVNot listed
Assigning CNAsecurity@docker.com

How to detect it

  • Inventory every instance of Docker Desktop 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 Docker Desktop 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 stageWhat to do for this CVE
ScopeAdd every business service that depends on Docker Desktop to the current CTEM cycle.
DiscoverFind all instances, including shadow and cloud deployments, and record versions and exposure.
PrioritizeRank using EPSS and CVSS together with asset exposure and business impact.
ValidateConfirm the flaw is reachable and exploitable in your environment and that compensating controls work.
MobilizeAssign the fix to the asset owner with a due date matched to the priority, then verify closure.

CWE References

Technical References

Frequently asked questions

CVE-2026-5843 is a high severity security vulnerability in Docker Desktop with a CVSS score of 8.8. Apply the vendor fix and confirm exposure on internet facing and business critical assets first.

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