CVE-2026-77179: Docker Sandboxes guest can write arbitrary macOS host files via a symlink in the virtio-fs stored-path fallback

Critical severity · published Sep 15, 2026

CVE-2026-77179

Docker Sandboxes guest can write arbitrary macOS host files via a symlink in the virtio-fs stored-path fallback

9.4

CVSS

0.2%

EPSS

On KEV

Description

On macOS, the virtio-fs host server used by Docker Sandboxes improperly follows symlinks when reopening an unlinked file from a stored path. A malicious guest can replace a parent directory with a symlink, escape the shared workspace, and read or modify arbitrary host files as the VMM user, potentially achieving host code execution.

Exploitation

Is it being used?

Exploit prediction (EPSS)0.2% · higher than 10% of CVEs

Exploited in the wildNo evidence yet

CISA KEVNot listed

Ransomware campaign useNot known

Affected products

Which versions

Docker Sandboxes · Docker

0.28.0 before 0.42.0 · source: vendor

In the news

VulnerabilityCritical

Critical Docker Sandboxes Flaw Lets Malicious Guest Code Read and Modify macOS Host Files

Malicious code running inside a Docker Sandboxes virtual machine on macOS could escape the project directory shared into it and read or change files anywhere else on the host, Docker warns in a security announcement on September 15. The escape runs with the rights of the host account that runs the virtual machine. The flaw, CVE-2026-77179, is rated Critical, affects versions

CVE-2026-77179

Sep 17, 2026·The Hacker News

Affected product

Docker Sandboxes

Docker

All Docker Sandboxes CVEs

References

NVD

https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-77179

CVE.org

https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-77179

docs.docker.com

https://docs.docker.com/ai/sandboxes/

docs.docker.com

https://docs.docker.com/ai/sandboxes/security/isolation/

github.com

https://github.com/docker/sbx-releases/releases/tag/v0.42.0