Docker Desktop up to 4.48.0 Installer.exe uncontrolled search path

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6.7	$0-$5k	0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability marked as problematic has been reported in Docker Desktop up to 4.48.0. This affects an unknown part of the file Installer.exe. This manipulation causes uncontrolled search path. This vulnerability is registered as CVE-2025-9164. The attack needs to be launched locally. No exploit is available. It is suggested to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Docker Desktop up to 4.48.0. It has been declared as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown code of the file Installer.exe. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a uncontrolled search path vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-427. The product uses a fixed or controlled search path to find resources, but one or more locations in that path can be under the control of unintended actors. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

Docker Desktop Installer.exe is vulnerable to DLL hijacking due to insecure DLL search order. The installer searches for required DLLs in the user's Downloads folder before checking system directories, allowing local privilege escalation through malicious DLL placement.This issue affects Docker Desktop: through 4.48.0.

The weakness was published by Mahmoud Noureldin. The advisory is shared at docs.docker.com. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2025-9164 since 08/19/2025. The exploitation appears to be difficult. An attack has to be approached locally. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available. MITRE ATT&CK project uses the attack technique T1574 for this issue.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 271961 (Docker Desktop for Windows < 4.49.0 Privilege Escalation (CVE-2025-9164)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 4.49.0 eliminates this vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (271961), EUVD (EUVD-2025-36191) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2421). Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Affected

• Docker Desktop

Productinfo

Type

• Virtualization Software

Vendor

• Docker

Name

• Desktop

Version

• 4.0
• 4.1
• 4.2
• 4.3
• 4.4
• 4.5
• 4.6
• 4.7
• 4.8
• 4.9
• 4.10
• 4.11
• 4.12
• 4.13
• 4.14
• 4.15
• 4.16
• 4.17
• 4.18
• 4.19
• 4.20
• 4.21
• 4.22
• 4.23
• 4.24
• 4.25
• 4.26
• 4.27
• 4.28
• 4.29
• 4.30
• 4.31
• 4.32
• 4.33
• 4.34
• 4.35
• 4.36
• 4.37
• 4.38
• 4.39
• 4.40
• 4.41
• 4.42
• 4.43
• 4.44
• 4.45
• 4.46
• 4.47
• 4.48.0

CPE 2.3info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CPE 2.2info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CNA CVSS-B Score: 🔒
CNA CVSS-BT Score: 🔒
CNA Vector: 🔒

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 7.0
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.7

VulDB Base Score: 7.0
VulDB Temp Score: 6.7
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AV	AC	Au	C	I	A
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳

Vector	Complexity	Authentication	Confidentiality	Integrity	Availability
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Uncontrolled search path
CWE: CWE-427 / CWE-426
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: No

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

0-Day	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Today	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

Nessus ID: 271961
Nessus Name: Docker Desktop for Windows < 4.49.0 Privilege Escalation (CVE-2025-9164)

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Desktop 4.49.0

Timelineinfo

08/19/2025 CVE reserved
10/27/2025 +69 days Advisory disclosed
10/27/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
05/05/2026 +190 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Advisory: docs.docker.com
Researcher: Mahmoud Noureldin
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2025-9164 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-9164
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-330145
EUVD: 🔒
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-2421 - Docker Desktop: Schwachstelle erm&ouml;glicht Privilegieneskalation

Entryinfo

Created: 10/27/2025 16:57
Updated: 05/05/2026 13:22
Changes: 10/27/2025 16:57 (70), 10/28/2025 07:28 (1), 10/29/2025 07:44 (7), 10/30/2025 03:52 (2), 05/05/2026 13:19 (2), 05/05/2026 13:22 (4)
Complete: 🔍
Committer: lywand
Cache ID: 216::103

Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Discussion

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