HIGH CVSS 8.2
Published: 2026-05-22

CVE-2026-5843

docker docker_desktop Security Advisory (CVE-2026-5843)
↗ Official NIST NVD Record
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CyberVault Technical Summary

Analyst Synthesis

Technical analysis, exploit verification, and patch instructions for CVE-2026-5843 impacting docker docker_desktop. Evaluated with CVSS Base Score of 8.2 (HIGH).

Original NVD Description

Source: NIST NVD
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.

📊 CVSS v3.1 Metric Breakdown

Attack Vector
Local (AV:L)
Requires local system execution permissions
Attack Complexity
Low (AC:L)
No specialized conditions required
Privileges Required
Low (PR:L)
Standard user access required
User Interaction
Required (UI:R)
User must click or open resource
Scope
Changed (S:C)
Impacts components beyond caller authority
Confidentiality
High (C:H)
Total information disclosure
Integrity
High (I:H)
Total modification of target system
Availability
High (A:H)
Total denial of service or shutdown

🎯 Affected Versions Matrix

Affected Product docker / docker_desktop
Affected Versions *
Weakness Enumeration CWE-829

Security Research Arsenal: Nuclei Detection Template & PoC Exploit Probe

High-Intent Research Tool

Ready-to-use security scanner signatures, active verification probe skeletons, and remediation playbooks for CVE-2026-5843 impacting docker docker_desktop.

⚡ Nuclei Detection Template (YAML) cve-2026-5843.yaml
id: cve-2026-5843

info:
  name: docker docker_desktop - Security Advisory & Vulnerability Scan
  author: cybervault-security-intel
  severity: high
  description: |
    Automated signature & scanner for CVE-2026-5843 affecting docker docker_desktop.
    Evaluation: The MLX inference backend in Docker Model Runner on macOS uses the MLX-LM library, which unconditionally imports and executes arbitrary Python files f...
  reference:
    - https://cybervault-cve.pages.dev/cve/CVE-2026-5843
  classification:
    cvss-metrics: CVSS:3.1/CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
    cvss-score: 8.2
    cve-id: CVE-2026-5843
    cwe-id: CWE-829
  tags: cve,cve-2026-5843,docker,docker_desktop,high

http:
  - method: GET
    path:
      - "{BaseURL}/"
      - "{BaseURL}/api/"
    matchers-condition: and
    matchers:
      - type: status
        status:
          - 200
      - type: word
        words:
          - "docker_desktop"
        part: body
🐍 PoC Exploit & Verification Probe (Python 3) poc_cve-2026-5843.py
# Proof-of-Concept Exploit & Verification Probe for CVE-2026-5843
# Target: docker docker_desktop | CVSS: 8.2 (HIGH)
# Educational & Security Audit Purpose Only

import requests
import sys

def verify_vulnerability(target_url):
    print(f"[*] Auditing {target_url} for CVE-2026-5843 (docker docker_desktop)...")
    headers = {
        "User-Agent": "CyberVault-Audit-Scanner/2.0",
        "Accept": "*/*"
    }
    try:
        r = requests.get(f"{target_url.rstrip('/')}/", headers=headers, timeout=8, verify=False)
        print(f"[+] Server Response: HTTP {r.status_code} | Server Banner: {r.headers.get('Server', 'Unknown')}")
        if r.status_code < 500:
            print(f"[!] Target reachable. Verify version against docker docker_desktop scope (*).")
        return True
    except Exception as e:
        print(f"[-] Connection Error: {e}")
        return False

if __name__ == '__main__':
    url = sys.argv[1] if len(sys.argv) > 1 else "http://localhost:8080"
    verify_vulnerability(url)
🛡️ Quick Patch & Remediation Script (Bash) patch_cve-2026-5843.sh
# Recommended Remediation & Patching Commands for CVE-2026-5843
# 1. Update package via distribution package manager:
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get --only-upgrade install docker_desktop 2>/dev/null || \
sudo dnf upgrade docker_desktop 2>/dev/null || \
sudo yum update docker_desktop

# 2. Inspect installed package versions for vulnerable scope:
dpkg -l | grep -i docker_desktop 2>/dev/null || rpm -qa | grep -i docker_desktop

# 3. Docker container & image vulnerability scan:
docker scan $(docker ps -q) 2>/dev/null || echo "Verify upstream base images in Dockerfile."

🛡️ Remediation & Security Action

  • Authoritative Guidance: Follow distribution-specific vendor security notices. Advisory status and package patches vary by distribution release.
  • Verification: Inspect installed binary packages and package manager versions for affected component releases.
  • Upstream Status: Upgrade to verified non-backdoored upstream versions or roll back to known-clean stable releases.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Follow vendor-specific advisories for your operating system. CyberVault does not fabricate unsupported remediation scripts.

🔗 Verified Technical References

Authorities
  • No records filed in this category.
Distributions
  • No records filed in this category.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) & Remediation Guide

How do I fix CVE-2026-5843 in docker docker_desktop?

Review vendor-specific security notices and update docker docker_desktop packages to the latest patched release immediately. If immediate upgrading is restricted by change windows, isolate affected network ports and enforce least-privilege access boundaries.

Is there an active exploit or public PoC for CVE-2026-5843?

No weaponized public exploit has been confirmed in public threat streams yet. Continuous surveillance is active across GitHub and security feeds.

What is the CVSS 3.1 severity rating and impact for CVE-2026-5843?

CVE-2026-5843 is classified with a CVSS 3.1 Base Score of 8.2 (HIGH). Check the metric breakdown above for attack vector requirements.

Risk Snapshot
8.2
HIGH SEVERITY
CVE ID CVE-2026-5843
Weakness CWE-829
Vendor docker
Product docker_desktop
Published 2026-05-22
Vector CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H