---
id: CVE-2025-9164
title: >-
  Docker Desktop Installer.exe is vulnerable to DLL hijacking due to insecure
  DLL search order
summary: >-
  Docker Desktop Installer.exe is vulnerable to DLL hijacking due to insecure
  DLL search order. The installer searches for required DLLs in the user's
  Downloads folder before checking system directories, allowing local privilege
  escalation…
severity: none
cwe:
  - CWE-427
published: '2025-10-27'
updated: '2026-10-08'
sourceUpdated: '2026-10-08T11:10:00.250'
source: NVD
sourceUrl: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-9164'
references:
  - url: 'https://docs.docker.com/desktop/release-notes/'
    label: security@docker.com
tags:
  - nvd
epss: 0.00111
epssPercentile: 0.01216
ingestedAt: '2026-10-08T11:31:27.635Z'
---

## Overview

Docker Desktop Installer.exe is vulnerable to DLL hijacking due to insecure DLL search order. The installer searches for required DLLs in the user's Downloads folder before checking system directories, allowing local privilege escalation through malicious DLL placement.This issue affects Docker Desktop: through 4.48.0.

## Remediation

Refer to the linked advisories for vendor-supplied fixes and affected version ranges.