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Vulnerability record · CVE-2025-9164 · published 27 October 2025

CVE-2025-9164: Uncontrolled search path element vulnerability

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.

8.8 CVSS 4.0 High EPSS 0.11% · top 98.8% CWE-427 · Uncontrolled search path element Deferred
8.8CVSS 4.0 base score
0.11%EPSS exploitation probability, 30 days
NoNot in CISA KEV
0Affected product versions listed by NVD
1References
17 Jun 2026Last modified by NVD

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:4.0/AV:L/AC:H/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:P/AU:Y/R:

References

LinkTags
https://docs.docker.com/desktop/release-notes/

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Related vulnerabilities

Same products first, then exploited flaws of the same weakness class.

7.8CVE-2020-3433Cisco AnyConnect Windows client DLL hijacking via IPC channelCisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client for Windows fails to properly validate resources loaded at run time, allowing a DLL hijacking attack through …KEVEPSS 10%analysed6.5CVE-2020-3153Cisco AnyConnect Windows Installer Path Handling Privilege EscalationThe Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client for Windows installer mishandles directory paths, letting an authenticated local user copy attacker-suppl…KEVEPSS 28%analysed

Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database (record CVE-2025-9164), CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS (scores of 2026-09-27). This page is refreshed as NVD updates the record.