8.8

CVE-2025-9164: docker docker_desktop Uncontrolled Search Path Element

CVSS: 8.8v4.0HighDeferred
Published 27-10-2025Last modified 26-02-2026
Open JSON

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2025-9164 is a high (CVSS 8.8) Uncontrolled Search Path Element vulnerability in docker docker_desktop. EPSS estimates a 0.11% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 1.2% of scored vulnerabilities.

Overall risk
35/100
0100
Medium · default modelHow is this calculated?
CVSS score
8.8/10
010
High · v4.0 (CVE.org)
EPSS score
0.11%
0%100%
Low · +0.01 pp in 30 days
KEVNot listedIn no KEV catalog
RansomwareNone recordedNo known use recorded
Public exploits0No public exploits recorded

Timeline

  1. 27-10-2025
    PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
  2. 26-02-2026
    Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

Description

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.

CVSS metrics

2 scores · 2 sources · 1 version

EPSS trend

Probability

0.11%

Chance of exploitation in the next 30 days

Percentile

1%

Versus all other CVEs

30-day change

+0.01 pp

From 0.10% on 19-09-2026

19-09-202619-10-2026
EPSS score
0.11%

Known exploited

Compare KEV catalogs

Not in any of the 3 tracked catalogs.

Public exploits

0 found

No public exploits indexed.

Weaknesses

CWE · root cause

Affected systems

Docker1 product

1 vendor · 1 product

References

1 links