CVE-2025-14740
Feb. 4, 2026, 4:33 p.m.
6.7
Medium
Description
Docker Desktop for Windows contains multiple incorrect permission assignment vulnerabilities in the installer's handling of the C:\ProgramData\DockerDesktop directory. The installer creates this directory without proper ownership verification, creating two exploitation scenarios:
Scenario 1 (Persistent Attack):
If a low-privileged attacker pre-creates C:\ProgramData\DockerDesktop before Docker Desktop installation, the attacker retains ownership of the directory even after the installer applies restrictive ACLs. At any time after installation completes, the attacker can modify the directory ACL (as the owner) and tamper with critical configuration files such as install-settings.json to specify a malicious credentialHelper, causing arbitrary code execution when any user runs Docker Desktop.
Scenario 2 (TOCTOU Attack):
During installation, there is a time-of-check-time-of-use (TOCTOU) race condition between when the installer creates C:\ProgramData\DockerDesktop and when it sets secure ACLs. A low-privileged attacker actively monitoring for the installation can inject malicious files (such as install-settings.json) with attacker-controlled ACLs during this window, achieving the same code execution outcome.
Product(s) Impacted
| Vendor | Product | Versions |
|---|---|---|
| Docker |
|
|
Weaknesses
Common security weaknesses mapped to this vulnerability.
CWE-732
Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource
The product specifies permissions for a security-critical resource in a way that allows that resource to be read or modified by unintended actors.
*CPE(s)
Affected systems and software identified for this CVE.
| Type | Vendor | Product | Version | Update | Edition | Language | Software Edition | Target Software | Target Hardware | Other Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| a | docker | docker_desktop | / | / | / | / | / | windows | / | / |
Tags
CVSS Score
CVSS Data - 3.1
- Attack Vector: LOCAL
- Attack Complexity: HIGH
- Privileges Required: LOW
- Scope: UNCHANGED
- Confidentiality Impact: HIGH
- Integrity Impact: HIGH
- Availability Impact: HIGH
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Timeline
Published: Feb. 4, 2026, 2:16 p.m.
Last Modified: Feb. 4, 2026, 4:33 p.m.
Last Modified: Feb. 4, 2026, 4:33 p.m.
Status : Awaiting Analysis
CVE has been recently published to the CVE List and has been received by the NVD.
More infoSource
*Disclaimer: Some vulnerabilities do not have an associated CPE. To enhance the data, we use AI to infer CPEs based on CVE details. This is an automated process and might not always be accurate.