CVE-2025-10657: Docker Desktop Privilege Escalation Flaw

CVE-2025-10657 Overview

A privilege escalation vulnerability exists in Docker Desktop 4.46.0 when Enhanced Container Isolation (ECI) is enabled. Due to a software bug, the command restrictions feature designed to limit which commands a container with a Docker socket mount can issue is completely ignored. This allows any command to be executed on the Docker socket, effectively bypassing the security controls meant to restrict container privileges.

The vulnerability grants excessive privileges by permitting unrestricted access to powerful Docker commands, undermining the security guarantees of the ECI hardening feature. Organizations relying on ECI command restrictions to enforce least-privilege container access are particularly impacted.

Critical Impact

Administrators who configured command restrictions for containers with Docker socket mounts may have unrestricted command execution, allowing privilege escalation within the Docker environment.

Affected Products

• Docker Desktop 4.46.0 with Enhanced Container Isolation (ECI) enabled
• Containers explicitly allowed to mount the Docker socket
• Systems using the Docker socket command restrictions feature

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-09-26 - CVE CVE-2025-10657 published to NVD
• 2025-09-29 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-10657

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-269 (Improper Privilege Management). The issue resides in how Docker Desktop processes command restriction configurations when Enhanced Container Isolation is active.

When an administrator configures ECI to restrict specific Docker commands for containers with socket mounts, the restriction configuration is passed to ECI but is not properly applied. The software bug causes the configuration to be ignored entirely, resulting in all commands being permitted regardless of the intended restrictions.

The attack requires local access and elevated privileges (administrator), but once exploited, it provides full access to Docker commands that should have been restricted. This could allow an attacker who has already compromised a container to escalate privileges within the Docker environment.

Root Cause

The root cause is a software bug in Docker Desktop 4.46.0's Enhanced Container Isolation implementation. When command restriction configurations are passed to ECI, the system fails to parse or apply these restrictions correctly. The configuration is accepted without error, providing a false sense of security while the restrictions are not enforced.

This represents an improper privilege management issue where the access control mechanism fails silently, allowing unrestricted command execution when restrictions should be in place.

Attack Vector

The attack requires local access to the Docker environment. An attacker would need:

1. Access to a container that has been explicitly allowed to mount the Docker socket by an administrator
2. Docker Desktop 4.46.0 running with ECI enabled
3. Command restrictions configured (which are being ignored due to the bug)

Once inside such a container, the attacker can issue any Docker command through the socket, bypassing all configured restrictions. This could include commands to create privileged containers, access host resources, or escape container isolation.

The vulnerability affects a specific configuration where administrators have explicitly allowed socket mounting while relying on command restrictions for security—the restrictions provide no protection in Docker Desktop 4.46.0.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-10657

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected Docker commands executed from containers that should have restricted socket access
• Container activity logs showing commands that were supposed to be restricted by ECI configuration
• Privilege escalation attempts originating from containers with Docker socket mounts
• Creation of privileged containers from within restricted containers

Detection Strategies

• Monitor Docker daemon logs for commands executed through socket connections from containers
• Audit container configurations to identify those with Docker socket mounts
• Review ECI command restriction configurations and compare against actual command execution logs
• Implement container runtime security monitoring to detect anomalous Docker API calls

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable verbose logging for Docker daemon socket connections
• Deploy runtime security agents capable of monitoring Docker API calls from within containers
• Alert on Docker commands that should be restricted per ECI configuration
• Regularly audit which containers have Docker socket mount permissions

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-10657

Immediate Actions Required

• Update Docker Desktop to a version newer than 4.46.0 where this bug has been fixed
• Temporarily revoke Docker socket mount permissions from containers until patching is complete
• Audit containers with socket access to ensure no unauthorized commands have been executed
• Review and strengthen network segmentation around Docker environments

Patch Information

Docker has released information regarding this vulnerability. Administrators should consult the Docker Desktop Release Notes for the latest patched version and upgrade instructions.

The fix ensures that command restriction configurations are properly applied when passed to Enhanced Container Isolation, restoring the intended access control behavior.

Workarounds

• Remove Docker socket mount permissions from containers until the patch can be applied
• If socket access is required, consider using Docker-in-Docker or alternative isolation approaches
• Implement additional monitoring and alerting for Docker API calls from containers
• Use network policies to restrict container access to Docker daemon endpoints

# Verify Docker Desktop version and check for vulnerable configuration
docker version --format '{{.Client.Version}}'

# List containers with Docker socket mounts
docker ps --format '{{.Names}}' --filter volume=/var/run/docker.sock

# Review ECI configuration status
# Consult Docker Desktop settings to verify ECI and command restrictions