CVE-2022-26659Public exploit

Arbitrary file overwrite via installer log symlink

Published Mar 25, 2022 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Arbitrary file overwrite in Docker Desktop for Windows before 4.6.0 allows local users to overwrite administrator-writable files. The elevated installer writes install-log.txt under the user-writable %LOCALAPPDATA%\Docker directory and follows an attacker-created symlink to its target. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access and an installation or update run; replacing a system file with log data can interrupt service.

CVSS severity7.1
High
EPSS probability0.43%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Arbitrary file overwrite in Docker Desktop for Windows before 4.6.0 allows local users to overwrite administrator-writable files. The elevated installer writes install-log.txt under the user-writable %LOCALAPPDATA%\Docker directory and follows an attacker-created symlink to its target. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access and an installation or update run; replacing a system file with log data can interrupt service.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-26659
Published
Mar 25, 2022
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-59
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 25, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 3, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

7.1NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H
3.6NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:P

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-59Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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