critical CVSS 9 EPSS 0.29%

CVE-2026-45405·Docker vulnerability

Dokku is a docker-powered PaaS. Prior to 0.38.2, the git:from-archive and certs:add commands extract user-supplied tar/zip archives into temporary directories without sanitizing member paths or preventing symlink traversal. GNU tar creates symlinks during extraction and follows them for subsequent entries, allowing an attacker to write arbitrary files anywhere writable by the dokku user — including overwriting ~/.ssh/authorized_keys to gain unrestricted shell access. This vulnerability is fixed in 0.38.2.

Severity
critical
Software
Docker
Fixed in
0.38.2
Published

How likely is exploitation

FIRST's Exploit Prediction Scoring System puts the probability of this CVE being exploited in the next 30 days at 0.29% — higher than 21% of all published CVEs. EPSS is an independent forecast of exploitation, not a severity rating: it says nothing about how much damage a successful attack does, which is what a CVSS score measures.

Read the two together. CVE-2026-45405 scores 9 on CVSS, so a successful attack would be serious — but at 0.29%, almost nobody is currently attempting it. That is a different situation from a flaw under mass exploitation, and it is usually the difference between patching on your next maintenance window and patching tonight.

Affected versions

Until: 0.38.2

Fixed in: 0.38.2

How to fix this CVE

Update Docker to version 0.38.2 or later to patch a critical path traversal vulnerability in the git:from-archive and certs:add commands. These commands previously failed to sanitize archive member paths, allowing attackers with local access to extract files outside intended directories and potentially overwrite SSH keys. Immediate patching is essential for any deployment handling untrusted archive uploads.

sudo dnf update docker-ce

Defensia detects this vulnerability

How to check if you are affected

  1. Run 'docker --version' and compare the version against 0.38.2 — any version below this threshold is vulnerable
  2. Check if git:from-archive or certs:add commands are exposed in your Dokku deployment with 'dokku plugins'
  3. Search Docker daemon logs for archive extraction errors: grep -i 'tar\|extract' /var/log/docker.log
  4. Verify the patch by running 'docker version' and confirming the build date is after the 0.38.2 release date (2024-09-10)

FAQ

What is CVE-2026-45405?

This vulnerability affects Docker's archive extraction functionality in git:from-archive and certs:add commands, which fail to validate archive member paths before extraction. Attackers can craft malicious tar/zip files with symlink traversal sequences to write files outside the intended temporary directory, potentially compromising system security by overwriting critical files like ~/.ssh/authorized_keys.

Is CVE-2026-45405 being actively exploited?

No, this CVE is not listed on CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog and no public exploits have been disclosed. However, the attack technique is straightforward and the impact is critical, making proactive patching essential.

What versions of Docker are affected by CVE-2026-45405?

All versions of Docker prior to 0.38.2 are vulnerable. Users must upgrade to 0.38.2 or any subsequent release to receive the patch.

How do I check if my server is vulnerable to CVE-2026-45405?

Run 'docker --version' and compare the version number. If the version is below 0.38.2, your system is vulnerable and requires immediate updating.

Does Defensia detect CVE-2026-45405?

Yes — Defensia's CVE advisory scanner compares installed package versions against the NVD database. If Docker is installed on a monitored server, CVE-2026-45405 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps.

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References

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