CVE-2025-10657 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-269 (Improper Privilege Management) affecting Docker Desktop version 4.46.0. In hardened Docker environments where Enhanced Container Isolation (ECI) is enabled, administrators can configure command restrictions to limit the Docker commands that containers with a mounted Docker socket can execute. However, a software bug causes these command restrictions to be ignored when passed to ECI, effectively disabling the intended security control. This flaw allows containers with Docker socket mounts to execute any Docker command without restriction, granting them excessive privileges over the Docker daemon. Since ECI by default restricts mounting the Docker socket into containers, the vulnerability only affects containers explicitly permitted by administrators to mount the socket. The impact is significant because unrestricted Docker socket access can lead to container breakout, privilege escalation, and full control over the host system's Docker environment. The vulnerability has a CVSS 4.0 score of 8.7, indicating high severity, with attack vector local, low attack complexity, privileges required at high level, no user interaction, and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. No public exploits are currently known. This vulnerability highlights the risk of relying solely on command restrictions without proper enforcement in container security mechanisms.

The vulnerability allows containers with Docker socket mounts to bypass command restrictions and execute any Docker command, effectively granting them elevated privileges over the Docker daemon. This can lead to container breakout, where an attacker escapes container isolation to execute commands on the host system. It also enables unauthorized manipulation of Docker resources such as creating or deleting containers, images, or volumes, potentially disrupting operations or facilitating further attacks. Organizations relying on Docker Desktop 4.46.0 with ECI and socket command restrictions face increased risk of privilege escalation and compromise of containerized environments. The impact extends to confidentiality, integrity, and availability of container workloads and the host system. Since the vulnerability requires local access and the container to have socket mount permission, the risk is mitigated somewhat by ECI's default restrictions, but any misconfiguration or explicit allowance of socket mounts exposes the environment to serious threats. This can affect development, testing, and production environments where Docker Desktop is used with hardened isolation settings.

1. Upgrade Docker Desktop to a version later than 4.46.0 where this vulnerability is patched, as relying on the affected version leaves systems exposed. 2. Review and restrict the use of Docker socket mounts in containers; avoid granting socket mount permissions unless absolutely necessary. 3. If socket mounts are required, consider alternative isolation or security mechanisms such as user namespaces, seccomp profiles, or AppArmor/SELinux policies to limit container capabilities. 4. Monitor Docker daemon logs and container activities for unusual commands or behaviors indicative of privilege escalation attempts. 5. Implement strict access controls and auditing on Docker Desktop usage, especially in environments with multiple users or developers. 6. Educate administrators on the risks of command restrictions not being enforced and the importance of verifying security configurations. 7. Consider using container runtime security tools that can detect or prevent unauthorized Docker socket usage or command execution. 8. Temporarily disable ECI or socket command restrictions if they cannot be securely configured until a patch is applied, but only after assessing the security trade-offs.