Host file overwrite via docker cp symlink race
Published Jun 12, 2026 · Updated Jun 12, 2026
TOCTOU race in Moby Docker Engine before 29.5.1 allows local users controlling a container to overwrite arbitrary host files. During docker cp mount setup, the daemon resolves a container-relative volume destination to a host path, then mount() follows a symlink swapped in before use. Exploitation requires a mounted volume, rapid symlink replacement by a container process, and an operator's copy or archive API request; read-only volumes instead mask the host path and interrupt service.
Summary
What happened
TOCTOU race in Moby Docker Engine before 29.5.1 allows local users controlling a container to overwrite arbitrary host files. During docker cp mount setup, the daemon resolves a container-relative volume destination to a host path, then mount() follows a symlink swapped in before use. Exploitation requires a mounted volume, rapid symlink replacement by a container process, and an operator's copy or archive API request; read-only volumes instead mask the host path and interrupt service.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-42306
- Published
- Jun 12, 2026
- Updated
- Jun 12, 2026
- Vendor
- Moby Project
- Product
- Moby
- Classifications
- CWE-367, CWE-61, T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jun 12, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Jun 12, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=Docker Engine < 29.5.1
- Affected versionversion=github.com/docker/docker/daemon <= 28.5.2
- Affected versionversion=github.com/moby/moby/v2/daemon < 2.0.0-beta.14
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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