CVE-2025-10657 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting Docker Desktop version 4.46.0, specifically when Enhanced Container Isolation (ECI) is enabled alongside the Docker socket command restrictions feature. Docker's ECI is designed to harden container environments by restricting container capabilities, including limiting commands that containers can execute on the Docker socket. The Docker socket is a powerful interface that allows control over Docker daemon operations, and mounting it inside containers is generally restricted due to the high privilege it confers. However, administrators can explicitly allow certain containers to mount the Docker socket and apply command restrictions to limit what commands those containers can issue. Due to a software bug, the command restrictions configuration is ignored when passed to ECI, effectively disabling the intended restrictions. This flaw allows containers with Docker socket mounts to execute any command on the socket without limitation, granting excessive privileges. This can lead to privilege escalation, unauthorized container or host manipulation, and potential compromise of the host system or other containers. The vulnerability requires that the environment be using Docker Desktop 4.46.0 with ECI enabled and that containers are explicitly allowed to mount the Docker socket, which is not the default behavior. No user interaction is necessary, but the attacker must have access to a container with the socket mounted. The CVSS 4.0 base score is 8.7, reflecting high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with low attack complexity but requiring high privileges to exploit. No known exploits are reported in the wild as of publication.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk in environments where Docker Desktop is used with ECI enabled and Docker socket mounts allowed. Organizations leveraging containerization for development, testing, or production workloads could face unauthorized privilege escalation within containers, leading to full host compromise or lateral movement across containerized applications. This can result in data breaches, service disruptions, and loss of integrity of critical applications. The impact is particularly severe for organizations in sectors with stringent data protection requirements such as finance, healthcare, and critical infrastructure, where container environments are increasingly adopted. Since Docker Desktop is widely used by developers and DevOps teams, the vulnerability could facilitate insider threats or exploitation of compromised containers. The requirement for high privileges to exploit somewhat limits exposure but does not eliminate risk, especially in complex environments where socket mounts are permitted for operational reasons. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not preclude targeted attacks or future exploitation.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should: 1) Immediately upgrade Docker Desktop from version 4.46.0 to a patched version once available, as no patch links are currently provided but should be prioritized upon release. 2) Review and restrict the use of Docker socket mounts in containers, avoiding mounting the Docker socket unless absolutely necessary. 3) Disable or carefully audit the use of the Docker socket command restrictions feature, recognizing that it is ineffective in the affected version with ECI enabled. 4) Enforce strict access controls and monitoring on containers allowed to mount the Docker socket, including runtime security tools to detect anomalous Docker API usage. 5) Implement network segmentation and least privilege principles to limit container access scope. 6) Educate DevOps and security teams about the risks of socket mounts and privilege escalation paths. 7) Monitor Docker and container security advisories for updates and apply patches promptly. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on configuration auditing, operational controls, and proactive monitoring specific to this vulnerability's context.