Docker CLI for Windows searches for plugin binaries in C:\ProgramData\Docker\cli-plugins, a directory that does not exist by default. A low-privileged attacker can create this directory and place malicious CLI plugin binaries (docker-compose.exe, docker-buildx.exe, etc.) that are executed when a victim user opens Docker Desktop or invokes Docker CLI plugin features, and allow privilege-escalation if the docker CLI is executed as a privileged user.
This issue affects Docker CLI: through 29.1.5 and Windows binaries acting as a CLI-plugin manager using the github.com/docker/cli/cli-plugins/manager https://pkg.go.dev/github.com/docker/cli@v29.1.5+incompatible/cli-plugins/manager package, such as Docker Compose.
This issue does not impact non-Windows binaries, and projects not using the plugin-manager code.
References
Configurations
Configuration 1 (hide)
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History
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Information
Published : 2026-03-04 17:16
Updated : 2026-07-15 02:17
NVD link : CVE-2025-15558
Mitre link : CVE-2025-15558
CVE.ORG link : CVE-2025-15558
JSON object : View
Products Affected
docker
- command_line_interface
microsoft
- windows
CWE
CWE-427
Uncontrolled Search Path Element
