Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
Docker Desktop before 3.6.0 on Windows allowed incorrect access control around Windows containers. A low-privileged user who could access the server running those containers could read, write, and potentially execute code inside containers, creating a serious containment failure.
Executive priority
Treat this as high priority for developer workstations or servers using Windows containers. The issue weakens container isolation and could allow a low-privileged user to compromise container workloads. Prioritize upgrade and access review.
Technical view
The CVE describes an access-control flaw affecting Docker Desktop before 3.6.0. With low-privileged access to the server running Windows containers, an attacker could fully compromise containers in both process isolation and Hyper-V isolation modes. No CVSS, CWE, or detailed affected CPE data is provided.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on Windows hosts using Docker Desktop versions earlier than 3.6.0 with Windows containers enabled, especially where non-admin or low-privileged accounts can access the container-hosting server.
Exploitation context
The provided sources do not cite active exploitation, and the CVE is not marked in KEV. The described prerequisite is low-privileged access to the server running Windows containers. The sources do not provide exploit mechanics.
Researcher notes
Evidence is limited to the CVE description and Docker release-note reference. The sources identify Docker Desktop before 3.6.0 and both Windows container isolation modes, but do not provide CVSS, CWE, exploit status, or detailed patch notes.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade Docker Desktop for Windows to version 3.6.0 or later.
- Review Docker release notes and vendor guidance for the applicable fixed build.
- Restrict low-privileged access to servers running Windows containers.
- Inventory Windows container hosts for Docker Desktop versions before 3.6.0.
Validation and detection
- Confirm Docker Desktop version on Windows container hosts.
- Identify whether Windows containers are used on affected hosts.
- Review access lists for low-privileged accounts on container-hosting servers.
- Check container integrity and logs for unexpected file writes or execution indicators.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
Container behavior lookup
The affected technology mentions containers, so container-specific ATT&CK technique review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-37841 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Unknown
- CVSS
- Not scored
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS and timeline data
No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://docs.docker.com/docker-for-windows/release-notes/CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.