CVE-2023-0629: Docker Desktop before 4.17.0 allows an unprivileged user to bypass Enhanced Container Isolation restrictions via the raw Docker socket and launch privileged containers

Severity: high (CVSS 7.1 v3.1)
Exploited in the wild: not listed in CISA KEV
EPSS: 0.2% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
Public exploit or detection template: none known
Published: 2023-03-13 · updated 2026-06-17
Weakness: CWE-424

Description

Docker Desktop before 4.17.0 allows an unprivileged user to bypass Enhanced Container Isolation (ECI) restrictions by setting the Docker host to docker.raw.sock, or npipe:////.pipe/docker_engine_linux on Windows, via the -H (--host) CLI flag or the DOCKER_HOST environment variable and launch containers without the additional hardening features provided by ECI. This would not affect already running containers, nor containers launched through the usual approach (without Docker's raw socket). The affected functionality is available for Docker Business customers only and assumes an environment where users are not granted local root or Administrator privileges. This issue has been fixed in Docker Desktop 4.17.0. Affected Docker Desktop versions: from 4.13.0 before 4.17.0.

Affected products

Docker Inc. Docker Desktop: from 4.13.0 before 4.17.0 — fixed in 4.17.0

How to fix

Upgrade to a fixed version: Docker Inc. Docker Desktop 4.17.0. Check the vendor advisory for mitigations.

References

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