# CVE-2025-15558: Docker Desktop Docker Plugins Uncontrolled Search Path Element Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability > A local attacker can escalate privileges by placing malicious plugins in a specific Windows directory that Docker CLI searches for execution. - **Severity:** High 7.0 (`CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/AU:N/R:U`) - **Exploited in the wild:** Not known - **Login needed:** Any signed-in user - **Attackable:** Local or same network only - **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something - **Fix available:** Yes - **Published:** 4 Mar 2026 - **Updated:** 15 Jul 2026 - **Also known as:** BIT-docker-cli-2025-15558, CLEANSTART-2026-CY83720, CLEANSTART-2026-JJ50819, CLEANSTART-2026-NT42167, CLEANSTART-2026-WJ82111, CLEANSTART-2026-WR28869, CLEANSTART-2026-YX87977, ECHO-db40-5ddd-be73, GHSA-p436-gjf2-799p, GO-2026-4610, MINI-224w-4jpr-r24w, MINI-22pv-75qf-p9q6, MINI-254m-p347-3h24, MINI-25gh-fh9r-fr22, MINI-267h-fr9p-3pm5, MINI-297r-6v2w-qxcx, MINI-2c38-4rr3-c5mv, MINI-2cjm-7552-g42m, MINI-2hhf-r2m9-j7h9, MINI-2hvx-ghhr-7hjf, MINI-2x7m-4g85-x77q, MINI-34pv-f4jx-hm8c, MINI-35gw-q4m3-x6f7, MINI-37jf-p372-42g8, MINI-3fh4-6j6m-p3g5, MINI-3g5c-g2p5-j993, MINI-3g6r-8jg7-5qwp, MINI-3mg9-v34c-x3mj, MINI-3qh2-qhm6-ggx8, MINI-3vq9-4ffg-gfjp, MINI-3vxh-j3vx-qh2g, MINI-3wjx-fgp4-m7jv, MINI-3wr7-4c3x-2rgv, MINI-3x4r-rw4r-qr6w, MINI-4433-44qv-q8w6, MINI-462j-vc87-vf8c, MINI-48p5-cjr4-3fp4, MINI-49wq-hcr8-75mx, MINI-4c32-p37v-528w, MINI-4cf8-xfpm-j3v7, MINI-4fvr-qpx2-mwxx, MINI-4fw3-jpv7-rqjj, MINI-4g59-rxg6-2chr, MINI-4hqx-j787-7cq4, MINI-4j8g-356v-25fr, MINI-4p73-mvc7-p6r5, MINI-4qjg-6mm3-6w4v, MINI-4r5f-9q5q-qpf8, MINI-4v93-6pc3-29cj, MINI-4w3j-rpfr-x954, MINI-4x5g-7ch3-w33g, MINI-526m-9386-qq8c, MINI-52q4-cv7c-cqm4, MINI-53cv-cr5v-q64h, MINI-55qr-6gqp-7r8c, MINI-56p5-wjgw-vcfj, MINI-5766-rrrv-jqv2, MINI-5856-qqjm-2p2c, MINI-5cm4-4648-chhx, MINI-5h7f-f557-5w69, MINI-5hjw-rhff-8cf6, MINI-5m4w-cv73-w2j8, MINI-5vrm-hw75-fv77, MINI-5w57-742c-vqwh, MINI-5w83-ppfv-hvrx, MINI-5w8r-cvxq-qxrx, MINI-5wq7-5mh8-fhp7, MINI-5wx6-8gmg-rm62, MINI-64rp-x27w-x77x, MINI-65w3-83rf-32xr, MINI-6795-rv5g-8mgw, MINI-69r6-3wh5-c9v7, MINI-6c38-2p6p-8qc6, MINI-6cqf-9qph-xcv8, MINI-6h24-4rjm-3fq8, MINI-6h85-fh3g-vwmx, MINI-6hf5-j6wf-xrww, MINI-6m9v-6f2g-grw4, MINI-6qvp-chx7-cv29, MINI-6rmq-3fxm-v635, MINI-6v6q-3jrv-j2w7, MINI-6wcc-5x48-h8jp, MINI-6x5c-w95f-qqf5, MINI-6xf7-688g-2pw3, MINI-6xm9-xjcr-6w78, MINI-7232-75r7-c3mj, MINI-723g-wwwg-h6f8, MINI-764h-qc3m-jc63, MINI-7985-9g4j-83pp, MINI-7pw3-5c3c-qv84, MINI-7q66-7mgr-fr62, MINI-7rh6-qcj6-hcq9, MINI-7rvf-8rgw-xw57, MINI-7rwq-hwc7-c7v2, MINI-7vm3-8qqx-hg3x, MINI-7wmh-cvr6-5vvm, MINI-835w-xhxg-ggmm, MINI-83c9-5x99-w2cw, MINI-8698-5x6p-6hmj, MINI-869w-hgfm-6cwf, MINI-86cf-c3f5-wg3v, MINI-87gg-mw3h-g5cr, MINI-8mj5-j83q-pfw9, MINI-8p9c-8vjq-7ghx, MINI-8rwv-6wpc-rx4x, MINI-9328-f63q-66m3, MINI-94p9-xpf7-f4h3, MINI-985g-w2j9-hjqh, MINI-99xv-chmv-mvfp, MINI-9fh6-w7rr-x43c, MINI-9gw3-3jfc-gm2r, MINI-9q7h-c6fr-phq9, MINI-9qc6-pfc5-qfpw, MINI-9rvp-6g8p-jv26, MINI-9vp4-7hw6-xfhg, MINI-9xj8-frh8-392p, MINI-9xp8-cm5h-27pg, MINI-c2xc-pvvc-g64h, MINI-c3vr-qgxj-67h2, MINI-c4h9-q856-w959, MINI-c7xh-xpjg-w39v, MINI-cjqv-fvvq-qp4j, MINI-cv73-rv8p-7ff6, MINI-cw3m-r3w2-86fm, MINI-f5jm-vvx3-r6p2, MINI-f6g5-ffpq-v8h8, MINI-f6qv-76hx-56px, MINI-f7g5-892f-qq7j, MINI-fcfx-pfjr-mqrr, MINI-ff4v-49m7-vg3j, MINI-fhqw-h9vq-258g, MINI-fj7j-g62m-58mv, MINI-fpwv-rhwp-wh2x, MINI-fwfr-5rhp-55f5, MINI-g26q-9wcp-hcf5, MINI-g49c-g58m-8c59, MINI-g4fj-m65m-vpjx, MINI-g4mp-j8xm-7wpx, MINI-g4q4-wpgv-9445, MINI-g5mh-7gxf-96gh, MINI-g758-hccj-g49g, MINI-g7cq-m242-7fr3, MINI-g8cj-m947-76pj, MINI-g998-858p-825x, MINI-g9rc-q4pp-8pqc, MINI-gfvr-4p77-w55q, MINI-ggr5-ch9r-v3j5, MINI-gj37-w7h5-54p7, MINI-gj5w-2jrp-hq56, MINI-gjm8-jx22-26w8, MINI-gmc5-xx4g-94mc, MINI-gmp4-qfc8-4mf3, MINI-gmr4-2c79-52mj, MINI-gp8h-gph3-5mrw, MINI-gx2v-w485-6m67, MINI-h2gr-c5v4-3m98, MINI-h2xf-rr95-f97x, MINI-h366-9pfh-9pxc, MINI-h37j-jppm-35m8, MINI-h3pg-336f-6h9p, MINI-h458-fg6f-69r3, MINI-h4gq-2rf8-vhf3, MINI-h9jf-8grr-8xph, MINI-hcgx-9cwc-2j4f, MINI-hcp8-6x2g-479q, MINI-hcq5-86qg-p4h7, MINI-hgmw-8m22-5wf4, MINI-hh92-84rr-867q, MINI-hpr6-vqp3-wg8p, MINI-hqx8-xhgh-xccp, MINI-hxmm-m99g-3mxg, MINI-j3c2-vfv7-8wf6, MINI-j3mq-q95r-5w8c, MINI-j5gp-mr45-585r, MINI-jchr-qx8f-6v4f, MINI-jf5c-m2qx-vj45, MINI-jm95-r374-83v2, MINI-jmv9-fghw-5q2g, MINI-jr3c-r7jg-gpf6, MINI-jrp2-gjm5-9mhq, MINI-jx8p-4v3m-cp9r, MINI-jxmv-pp59-5h27, MINI-m2vq-3rpx-fg24, MINI-m859-x9xc-3mg5, MINI-m994-cmgx-46f5, MINI-mcr2-fcxq-x7xw, MINI-mcr8-pvmc-972x, MINI-mgv9-7xpx-f4gv, MINI-mh6r-6wxj-533x, MINI-mj8c-5fq6-qmqx, MINI-mjrv-3wwq-vg9p, MINI-mm9h-6rwq-pfqw, MINI-mp84-wvjg-vf4r, MINI-mpfv-h4g7-9r3f, MINI-mpv6-5gj5-gvqx, MINI-mr3h-vpxh-xxwm, MINI-mw32-pcwq-5xwf, MINI-mx7m-pfrj-5x7m, MINI-p228-92pm-xrxh, MINI-p32j-9q5g-26v7, MINI-p33q-84gr-j2gr, MINI-p4hw-jh4m-3p7h, MINI-p5cr-chv2-g6q7, MINI-phvj-x7fw-w7p5, MINI-pp6r-fmqh-r85w, MINI-pp73-x872-4rh3, MINI-pq2m-2r8v-gp6h, MINI-prf5-xjf6-xrjx, MINI-prfh-xfww-h3gj, MINI-pwmj-xjf3-6ccw, MINI-q3hq-3jj7-7gq8, MINI-q4j6-g76r-2p7v, MINI-q4w7-4pw7-grf4, MINI-qcc8-84vc-q3v7, MINI-qf64-5wh7-c384, MINI-qg98-fhfx-hqm3, MINI-qhf8-cc5g-58p4, MINI-qj5q-p8rh-7m9c, MINI-qj6m-7g28-5jw4, MINI-qwg7-8gvq-hcv6, MINI-r4fw-q6v5-59f3, MINI-r5mj-cr77-xg8w, MINI-rc3h-hhvq-qfch, MINI-rh5r-pmrp-9f36, MINI-rjx9-4235-44mp, MINI-rp7f-hxpf-25gr, MINI-rr7x-4h77-v2vp, MINI-rv6r-95v3-97fx, MINI-rww9-jr98-wqcf, MINI-rxf7-f492-w8cj, MINI-v3cv-657m-2jrx, MINI-v427-f3c3-28rr, MINI-v5pq-gfh8-mhpc, MINI-v98q-v4fh-g69x, MINI-v9x4-pw46-hxqm, MINI-vcrh-46h4-2q6m, MINI-vf3p-hv85-593v, MINI-vf6q-gv5w-vj68, MINI-vfpg-hqpc-hmh5, MINI-vg67-5v64-vr6m, MINI-vhc9-gr66-99c2, MINI-vj5x-q4w4-837q, MINI-vqvg-5mp5-99m9, MINI-vvm5-jvjm-rpf2, MINI-vwcq-mvf9-h3cp, MINI-vwrm-g67f-v74c, MINI-vxpq-qg72-8hv3, MINI-w285-fc63-44gj, MINI-w29j-4hjm-h666, MINI-w3j2-jppj-m24g, MINI-w8q8-qjwc-478v, MINI-w9w4-3pp9-hwx5, MINI-wf2v-9w52-c74x, MINI-wj93-mj32-56c9, MINI-wvp6-c583-gfj2, MINI-ww2f-8qf2-823h, MINI-wwvp-64qc-698v, MINI-wwxm-4cvm-33j8, MINI-x3j4-rcfj-83r5, MINI-x53g-7qj7-x38g, MINI-x5pv-546q-h957, MINI-x64g-89wj-pj6m, MINI-x6c4-4v4h-p545, MINI-x6v8-cr9r-268q, MINI-x979-jhrr-f5g5, MINI-xc36-639p-xcpx, MINI-xfjj-hw32-3rh6, MINI-xjrq-mgvr-96qw, MINI-xjw7-5gvm-p8m4, MINI-xp37-fmwp-j24c, MINI-xp6v-pg8m-7h8r, MINI-xpcj-gj7c-gq7m, MINI-xpf6-773v-3xwj, MINI-xq3q-j8vq-5c9r, MINI-xqc9-pg6g-wr4c, MINI-xr3v-rppc-qh85, MINI-xv96-g9j3-w5g6, MINI-xwf6-9x47-mjgj, ROOT-APP-GOBINARY-CVE-2025-15558, openSUSE-SU-2026:10369-1 ## What is CVE-2025-15558? CVE-2025-15558 is a high-severity vulnerability in Docker Compose, published on 4 Mar 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link. ### Official description 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. Weakness: CWE-427 (Uncontrolled Search Path Element) ## Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-15558? 7 open source packages ship an affected version, including github.com/docker/compose, docker-cli and github.com/docker/cli. It affects 1 product. | Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `github.com/docker/compose` | Go | All versions | None | | `docker-cli` | Bitnami | All versions | 29.2.1 | | `github.com/docker/cli` | Go | All versions | 29.2.0+incompatible | | `github.com/docker/cli` | Go | From 19.03.0 | 29.2.0 | | `github.com/docker/cli` | Go | From 19.03.0 | 29.2.0 | | `github.com/docker/compose/v2` | Go | From 2.31.0 | None | | `github.com/docker/compose/v5` | Go | All versions | 5.1.0 | | `skaffold` | openSUSE:Tumbleweed | All versions | 2.18.0-1.1 | Products: Docker Command Line Interface. ## How do I fix CVE-2025-15558? Apply the vendor's patch. ## Is CVE-2025-15558 being exploited? There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-15558 in the wild and no public exploit code. ## Other vulnerabilities in Docker Compose - [CVE-2021-41092](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-41092/): Docker CLI leaks private registry credentials to registry-1.docker.io (medium 5.4) ## Fix prompt for AI coding agents ```text Check this codebase for CVE-2025-15558 and fix it if it is affected. What it is: CVE-2025-15558 is a high-severity vulnerability in Docker Compose, published on 4 Mar 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link. Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-15558 in the wild and no public exploit code. Affected packages and fixed versions: - github.com/docker/compose (Go): affected all versions; no fix listed - docker-cli (Bitnami): affected all versions; fixed in 29.2.1 - github.com/docker/cli (Go): affected all versions; fixed in 29.2.0+incompatible - github.com/docker/cli (Go): affected from 19.03.0; fixed in 29.2.0 - github.com/docker/cli (Go): affected from 19.03.0; fixed in 29.2.0 - github.com/docker/compose/v2 (Go): affected from 2.31.0; no fix listed - github.com/docker/compose/v5 (Go): affected all versions; fixed in 5.1.0 Task: 1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies. 2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it. 3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead. 4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why. 5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing. Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-15558/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-15558/index.md) ``` ## Sources - CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-15558 - NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-15558 - OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2025-15558 --- From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-15558/ Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.