CVE-2026-18171
CVE-2026-18171 — Docker Sandboxes read-only runtime mount writable through its shared-export alias
Docker Sandboxes (sbx) applies the read-only intent of a runtime host mount to the in-guest container bind only: the underlying virtio-fs host-edge grant is added to the sandbox's policy-share allowlist with no access mode. The directory stays writable at its shared-export path, so unprivileged code inside the sandbox can derive that path and write to a host directory the operator attached read-only.
Published Updated Sources: NVD, Docker (CNA), GitHub, GitHub Security Advisory, SOCRadar CTI
Triage
Is it exploited, how likely is exploitation, what does it touch, and how severe do the scoring sources call it.
Exploitation
Reported
not confirmed by CISA
EPSS
0%
ahead of 0% of scored CVEs
CVSS base
5.7
medium
Remediation
The vendor's own words where we have them.
Upgrade Docker Sandboxes to a fixed release. Apply vendor patches per advisory and restrict external exposure of the affected component until patched.
First 24 hours
Ordered from the record's own fields — exposure first, because you cannot patch what you have not found.
- Identify exposed assets running affected vendor/product/version combinations.
- Prioritize based on EPSS, PoC availability, and external exposure.
- Search available logs for exploit probes, errors, authentication anomalies, or suspicious child processes matching the vulnerability class.
Affected scope
Vendor, product and version as the advisories word them.
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Docker | Docker Sandboxes | 0.35.0 to <= 0.38.0 | Vulnerable |
Every base score collected
Sources score independently and disagree; each row says who scored it and under which version.
| Score | Version | Severity | Expl. | Impact | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.7 | CVSS 4.0 | medium | — | — | Docker (CNA) |
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
What this weakness leads to
MITRE's own consequences and mitigations for the weakness class — the authority's wording, not guidance derived from the CVSS vector.
CWE-863 · Incorrect Authorization
- Read Application Data
- Read Files or Directories
- Modify Application Data
- Modify Files or Directories
Mitigation: Divide the software into anonymous, normal, privileged, and administrative areas. Reduce the attack surface by carefully mapping roles with data and functionality. Use role-based access control (RBAC) [REF-229] to enforce the roles at the appropriate boundaries. Note that this approach may not protect against horizontal authorization, i.e., it will not protect a user from attacking others with the same role.
Weakness & attack patterns
- CWE-863
Inferred from the weakness class — not observed against this CVE.
Public exploit
Capability, not use: code existing is a different claim from anyone running it.
Repositories
3
1 of the 3 sampled are weaponized
Detection
Read off the CVSS vector and the weakness class. Starting points, not rules we have tested.
- Monitor for scanner or exploit-pattern traffic after 3 public PoC repositories were reported.
Timeline
What happened to this CVE, newest first — with the readings a source repeats on a schedule counted underneath rather than listed.
- 2026
Added · CVSS 3.1 5.7
Aug 12, 2026 · NVD
Initial · CVE published
Aug 12, 2026 · NVD
Added · GHSA-q3q4-c92f-m955 published (medium)
Aug 12, 2026 · GitHub Security Advisory
References
4 on the record
- docs.docker.com/ai/sandboxes/
Vendor Advisory
- docs.docker.com/ai/sandboxes/architecture/
Vendor Advisory
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-18171
NVD
- github.com/advisories/GHSA-q3q4-c92f-m955
Exploit, Third Party Advisory
Elsewhere on this site
- Dockerevery CVE for this vendor
- Remote Code Execsame class
- CWE-863other pages naming this weakness
Not in any source we poll
Listed rather than left blank: an empty field and an unmeasured one look identical on screen, and only one is a reason to look elsewhere.
- No confirmed IOCs, IP addresses, domains, file hashes, or malware artifacts supplied.
- No organization-specific asset inventory, compensating-control status, or patch deployment evidence supplied.
- No exploit packet captures, log samples, or incident case IDs supplied.
Answered from this record1
What should defenders know first?
CVE-2026-18171 is Docker Sandboxes read-only runtime mount writable through its shared-export alias, a medium vulnerability affecting Docker Sandboxes from Docker. The current evidence does not list it in CISA KEV, and the exploit status is: Exploitation is reported, but no independent confirmation is available in the sources we have. Public exploit evidence is: 3 public PoC repositories reported; 1 marked weaponized in current dataset. The affected-version evidence is listed in the key facts and affected products tables. Defenders should first verify whether exposed or business-critical assets run those versions, then apply vendor patches or mitigations, restrict reachable attack surface, and preserve logs for detection review. CVSS 5.7 describes technical severity, while EPSS 0% helps estimate near-term exploit likelihood; neither replaces asset context. Unknown fields should remain explicit in tickets, and threat actor, IOC, victimology, or payload claims should not be added unless a cited source supports them. Monitor CISA KEV, vendor advisories, NVD changes, public PoC repositories, and internal telemetry for update triggers.