Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This Portainer flaw lets a non-admin user with Docker endpoint access perform privileged Docker plugin actions through Portainer. In affected versions, that can lead to remote code execution on the Docker host. The risk is high where Portainer RBAC grants standard users access to Docker endpoints.
Executive priority
Treat this as urgent for any Portainer-managed Docker environment with delegated user access. A low-privileged internal account could potentially become host-level compromise if the instance remains vulnerable.
Technical view
CVE-2026-44848 is a missing authorization issue in Portainer Community Edition Docker plugin endpoints. From affected releases, /plugins/* operations were not registered with the expected handler, allowing users with endpoint-level access to invoke privileged plugin operations against Docker. Fixed versions are 2.33.8, 2.39.2, and 2.41.0.
Likely exposure
Exposure requires Portainer Community Edition in an affected version and a non-admin or endpoint-authorized user with access to a Docker endpoint through Portainer RBAC. Systems without delegated Docker endpoint access have lower practical exposure.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or public active exploitation evidence. The advisory indicates exploitation requires low privileges but no user interaction, and successful abuse can impact host confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Researcher notes
The key exposure condition is RBAC-mediated endpoint access, not unauthenticated internet access. Evidence supports CWE-862 missing authorization on Docker plugin endpoints and fixed release lines, but the supplied sources do not provide exploit telemetry.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade Portainer CE to 2.33.8, 2.39.2, 2.41.0, or later fixed versions.
- Restrict Docker endpoint access to trusted administrators until all affected instances are upgraded.
- Review Portainer RBAC assignments for Standard User and endpoint-level access.
- Check vendor guidance for any additional hardening or post-upgrade recommendations.
- Review logs for unexpected Docker plugin install or enable activity.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Portainer CE versions across all environments.
- Identify users and roles with Docker endpoint access in Portainer RBAC.
- Confirm affected versions are upgraded to a fixed release.
- Verify plugin management operations require appropriate authorization after remediation.
- Review recent administrative and Docker plugin activity for anomalies.
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.
CWE-862: Authorization and privilege behavior lookup
Authorization weaknesses can support privilege escalation and valid-account review, depending on exploit path. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupExecution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupContainer 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-2026-44848 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
- Critical
- CVSS
- 9.4 (4.0)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H
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.
SSVC decision data
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H——GitHub_MVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 4.0 score
9.4CriticalVector: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://github.com/portainer/portainer/security/advisories/GHSA-rrmm-9v76-h3p4CVE reference, GitHub_M · x_refsource_CONFIRM
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.
Missing Authorization
Missing Authorization represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.