Docker Desktop up to 4.70.x MLX Inference Backend config.json model_file inclusion of functionality from untrusted control sphere

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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7.8$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Docker Desktop up to 4.70.x. Affected is an unknown function of the file config.json of the component MLX Inference Backend. Such manipulation of the argument model_file leads to inclusion of functionality from untrusted control sphere. This vulnerability is documented as CVE-2026-5843. The attack needs to be performed locally. There is not any exploit available. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in Docker Desktop up to 4.70.x. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality of the file config.json of the component MLX Inference Backend. The manipulation of the argument model_file with an unknown input leads to a inclusion of functionality from untrusted control sphere vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-829. The product imports, requires, or includes executable functionality (such as a library) from a source that is outside of the intended control sphere. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

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.

The weakness was released by David Rochester. The advisory is shared for download at docs.docker.com. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2026-5843 since 04/08/2026. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack needs to be approached locally. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available.

By approaching the search of inurl:config.json it is possible to find vulnerable targets with Google Hacking. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 316463 (Docker Desktop < 4.71.0 Container Escape (CVE-2026-5843)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 4.71.0 eliminates this vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at Tenable (316463). Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

Vendor

Name

Version

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: 8.0
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.8

VulDB Base Score: 7.8
VulDB Temp Score: 7.5
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CNA Base Score: 8.2
CNA Vector (Docker): 🔒

CVSSv2info

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

Exploitinginfo

Class: Inclusion of functionality from untrusted control sphere
CWE: CWE-829
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined
Google Hack: 🔒

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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Nessus ID: 316463
Nessus Name: Docker Desktop < 4.71.0 Container Escape (CVE-2026-5843)

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Desktop 4.71.0

Timelineinfo

04/08/2026 CVE reserved
05/23/2026 +45 days Advisory disclosed
05/23/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
05/23/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Advisory: docs.docker.com
Researcher: David Rochester
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-5843 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-5843
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-365276

Entryinfo

Created: 05/23/2026 07:49
Updated: 05/23/2026 18:20
Changes: 05/23/2026 07:49 (79), 05/23/2026 18:20 (2)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

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