CVE-2026-77179
Docker Sandboxes guest can write arbitrary macOS host files via a symlink in the virtio-fs stored-path fallback
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.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Local
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
Docker Sandboxes guest can write arbitrary macOS host files via a symlink in the virtio-fs stored-path fallback
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.
- Record
CVE-2026-77179- CVSS 4.0
- 9.4 Critical
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H - Weakness
- CWE-59
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2026-78467
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.
- Record
EUVD-2026-78467- CVSS 4.0
- 9.4 Critical
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-4x2g-7mfh-8rx6
On macOS, the virtio-fs host server used by Docker Sandboxes improperly follows symlinks when...
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.
- Record
GHSA-4x2g-7mfh-8rx6- CVSS 4.0
- 9.4 Critical
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/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:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X - Weakness
- CWE-59
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
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.
- Record
CVE-2026-77179- CVSS 4.0
- 9.4 Critical
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/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:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X - Weakness
- CWE-59
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
Docker Sandboxes guest can write arbitrary macOS host files via a symlink in the virtio-fs stored-path fallback
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.
- Record
CVE-2026-77179- CVSS 4.0
- 9.4 Critical
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H - Weakness
- CWE-59
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Public exploits
Links only. Every CVE stores no exploit code.
| Source | Link | Date |
|---|---|---|
| PoC in GitHub | HORKimhab/CVE-2026-77179 | 2026-09-18 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV, PoC in GitHub |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2026-77179 is a critical vulnerability (CVSS 9.4) in Docker Sandboxes, published September 15, 2026. Public exploit code exists. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.20%, the 9th percentile. No source names a fixed version.
References
docs.docker.com/ai/sandboxes
github.com/docker/sbx-releases/releases/tag/v0.42.0
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-77179