diff --git a/.changeset/slow-oranges-repair.md b/.changeset/slow-oranges-repair.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a0c6e758a14
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/slow-oranges-repair.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"webpack-cli": patch
+---
+
+The `file` protocol for configuration options (`--config`/`--extends`) is supported.
diff --git a/packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts b/packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts
index dd88847a165..edae3031ccb 100644
--- a/packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts
+++ b/packages/webpack-cli/src/webpack-cli.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import fs from "node:fs";
 import path from "node:path";
 import { type Readable as ReadableType } from "node:stream";
-import { pathToFileURL } from "node:url";
+import { fileURLToPath, pathToFileURL } from "node:url";
 import util from "node:util";
 import { type stringifyChunked as stringifyChunkedType } from "@discoveryjs/json-ext";
 import {
@@ -2163,12 +2163,14 @@ class WebpackCLI {
     ): Promise<{ options: Configuration | MultiConfiguration; path: string }> => {
       let options: LoadableWebpackConfiguration | undefined;
 
+      const isFileURL = configPath.startsWith("file://");
+
       try {
         let loadingError;
 
         try {
-          // eslint-disable-next-line no-eval
-          options = (await eval(`import("${pathToFileURL(configPath)}")`)).default;
+          options = // eslint-disable-next-line no-eval
+            (await eval(`import("${isFileURL ? configPath : pathToFileURL(configPath)}")`)).default;
         } catch (err) {
           if (this.isValidationError(err) || process.env?.WEBPACK_CLI_FORCE_LOAD_ESM_CONFIG) {
             throw err;
@@ -2209,7 +2211,7 @@ class WebpackCLI {
           }
 
           try {
-            options = require(configPath);
+            options = require(isFileURL ? fileURLToPath(configPath) : path.resolve(configPath));
           } catch (err) {
             if (this.isValidationError(err)) {
               throw err;
@@ -2301,9 +2303,7 @@ class WebpackCLI {
 
     if (options.config && options.config.length > 0) {
       const loadedConfigs = await Promise.all(
-        options.config.map((configPath: string) =>
-          loadConfigByPath(path.resolve(configPath), options.argv),
-        ),
+        options.config.map((configPath: string) => loadConfigByPath(configPath, options.argv)),
       );
 
       if (loadedConfigs.length === 1) {
@@ -2406,9 +2406,7 @@ class WebpackCLI {
       delete config.extends;
 
       const loadedConfigs = await Promise.all(
-        extendsPaths.map((extendsPath) =>
-          loadConfigByPath(path.resolve(extendsPath), options.argv),
-        ),
+        extendsPaths.map((extendsPath) => loadConfigByPath(extendsPath, options.argv)),
       );
 
       const { merge } = await import("webpack-merge");
diff --git a/test/build/basic/basic.test.js b/test/build/basic/basic.test.js
index 92033d98ba3..6dfebe00edc 100644
--- a/test/build/basic/basic.test.js
+++ b/test/build/basic/basic.test.js
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 "use strict";
 
-const { resolve } = require("node:path");
 const { run } = require("../../utils/test-utils");
 
 describe("bundle command", () => {
@@ -181,11 +180,10 @@ describe("bundle command", () => {
 
   it("should log supplied config when logging level is log", async () => {
     const { exitCode, stderr, stdout } = await run(__dirname, ["--config", "./log.config.js"]);
-    const configPath = resolve(__dirname, "./log.config.js");
 
     expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
     expect(stderr).toContain("Compiler starting...");
-    expect(stderr).toContain(`Compiler is using config: '${configPath}'`);
+    expect(stderr).toContain("Compiler is using config: './log.config.js'");
     expect(stderr).toContain("Compiler finished");
     expect(stdout).toBeTruthy();
   });
diff --git a/test/build/config-format/failure/failure.test.js b/test/build/config-format/failure/failure.test.js
index 0f17f96b481..fbdcfe06b77 100644
--- a/test/build/config-format/failure/failure.test.js
+++ b/test/build/config-format/failure/failure.test.js
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-const path = require("node:path");
-
 const { run } = require("../../../utils/test-utils");
 
 describe("failure", () => {
@@ -7,9 +5,7 @@ describe("failure", () => {
     const { exitCode, stderr, stdout } = await run(__dirname, ["-c", "webpack.config.iced"]);
 
     expect(exitCode).toBe(2);
-    expect(stderr).toContain(
-      `Failed to load '${path.resolve(__dirname, "./webpack.config.iced")}'`,
-    );
+    expect(stderr).toContain("Failed to load 'webpack.config.iced'");
     expect(stdout).toBeFalsy();
   });
 });
diff --git a/test/build/config-format/failure/webpack.config.json5 b/test/build/config-format/failure/webpack.config.json5
deleted file mode 100644
index 43fdd4c1594..00000000000
--- a/test/build/config-format/failure/webpack.config.json5
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,4 +0,0 @@
-{
-  mode: "development",
-  entry: "./main.js",
-}
diff --git a/test/build/config/basic/basic-config.test.js b/test/build/config/basic/basic-config.test.js
index f971259aa1f..0bc76e25fd4 100644
--- a/test/build/config/basic/basic-config.test.js
+++ b/test/build/config/basic/basic-config.test.js
@@ -1,18 +1,53 @@
 "use strict";
 
 const { resolve } = require("node:path");
+const { pathToFileURL } = require("node:url");
 const { run } = require("../../../utils/test-utils");
 
 describe("basic config file", () => {
   it("should build and not throw error with a basic configuration file", async () => {
+    const { exitCode, stderr, stdout } = await run(__dirname, ["-c", "webpack.config.js"]);
+    console.log(stdout);
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+    expect(stderr).toBeFalsy();
+    expect(stdout).toBeTruthy();
+  });
+
+  it("should build and not throw error with a basic configuration file using relative path", async () => {
+    const { exitCode, stderr, stdout } = await run(__dirname, ["-c", "./webpack.config.js"]);
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+    expect(stderr).toBeFalsy();
+    expect(stdout).toBeTruthy();
+  });
+
+  it("should build and not throw error with a basic configuration file using absolute path", async () => {
     const { exitCode, stderr, stdout } = await run(__dirname, [
       "-c",
       resolve(__dirname, "webpack.config.js"),
-      "--output-path",
-      "./binary",
     ]);
     expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
     expect(stderr).toBeFalsy();
     expect(stdout).toBeTruthy();
   });
+
+  it("should build and not throw error with a basic configuration file using file protocol", async () => {
+    const { exitCode, stderr, stdout } = await run(__dirname, [
+      "-c",
+      pathToFileURL(resolve(__dirname, "webpack.config.js")).toString(),
+    ]);
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+    expect(stderr).toBeFalsy();
+    expect(stdout).toBeTruthy();
+  });
+
+  it("should build and not throw error with a basic using weird path", async () => {
+    const { exitCode, stderr, stdout } = await run(__dirname, [
+      "-c",
+      "../basic/./webpack.config.js",
+    ]);
+    console.log(stdout);
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+    expect(stderr).toBeFalsy();
+    expect(stdout).toBeTruthy();
+  });
 });
diff --git a/test/build/config/error-array/__snapshots__/config-array-error.test.js.snap.webpack5 b/test/build/config/error-array/__snapshots__/config-array-error.test.js.snap.webpack5
index 837aa696909..3b3b72ef37d 100644
--- a/test/build/config/error-array/__snapshots__/config-array-error.test.js.snap.webpack5
+++ b/test/build/config/error-array/__snapshots__/config-array-error.test.js.snap.webpack5
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 // Jest Snapshot v1, https://jestjs.io/docs/snapshot-testing
 
 exports[`config with invalid array syntax should throw syntax error and exit with non-zero exit code when even 1 object has syntax error 1`] = `
-"[webpack-cli] Failed to load '<cwd>/test/build/config/error-array/webpack.config.js' config
+"[webpack-cli] Failed to load './webpack.config.js' config
 ▶ ESM (\`import\`) failed:
   Unexpected token ';'
 
diff --git a/test/build/extends/extends.test.js b/test/build/extends/extends.test.js
index 09ad57641d3..d1265ede8f2 100644
--- a/test/build/extends/extends.test.js
+++ b/test/build/extends/extends.test.js
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 "use strict";
 
 const path = require("node:path");
+const { pathToFileURL } = require("node:url");
 const { run } = require("../../utils/test-utils");
 
 describe("extends property", () => {
@@ -15,6 +16,38 @@ describe("extends property", () => {
     expect(stdout).toContain("mode: 'development'");
   });
 
+  it("extends a provided webpack config correctly using file protocol", async () => {
+    const { exitCode, stderr, stdout } = await run(path.resolve(__dirname, "./file-protocol"));
+
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+    expect(stderr).toBeFalsy();
+    expect(stdout).toContain("base.webpack.config.js");
+    expect(stdout).toContain("derived.webpack.config.js");
+    expect(stdout).toContain("name: 'base_config'");
+    expect(stdout).toContain("mode: 'development'");
+  });
+
+  it("extends a provided webpack config correctly using `require.resolve`", async () => {
+    const { exitCode, stderr, stdout } = await run(path.resolve(__dirname, "./require-resolve"));
+
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+    expect(stderr).toBeFalsy();
+    expect(stdout).toContain("base.webpack.config.js");
+    expect(stdout).toContain("derived.webpack.config.js");
+    expect(stdout).toContain("name: 'base_config'");
+    expect(stdout).toContain("mode: 'development'");
+  });
+
+  it("extends a provided webpack config correctly using `JSON` format", async () => {
+    const { exitCode, stderr, stdout } = await run(path.resolve(__dirname, "./json"));
+
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+    expect(stderr).toBeFalsy();
+    expect(stdout).toContain("derived.webpack.config.js");
+    expect(stdout).toContain("name: 'base_config'");
+    expect(stdout).toContain("mode: 'development'");
+  });
+
   it("extends a provided array of webpack configs correctly", async () => {
     const { exitCode, stderr, stdout } = await run(path.resolve(__dirname, "./multiple-extends"));
 
@@ -89,7 +122,7 @@ describe("extends property", () => {
       "--extends",
       "./base.webpack.config.js",
       "--extends",
-      "./other.config.js",
+      path.resolve(__dirname, "./multiple-configs1/other.config.js"),
     ]);
 
     expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
@@ -102,7 +135,7 @@ describe("extends property", () => {
     expect(stdout).toContain("topLevelAwait: true");
   });
 
-  it("cLI `extends` should override `extends` in a configuration", async () => {
+  it("`extends` should override `extends` in a configuration", async () => {
     const { exitCode, stderr, stdout } = await run(path.resolve(__dirname, "./simple-case"), [
       "--extends",
       "./override.config.js",
@@ -116,6 +149,20 @@ describe("extends property", () => {
     expect(stdout).toContain("mode: 'development'");
   });
 
+  it("`extends` should override `extends` in a configuration using file protocol", async () => {
+    const { exitCode, stderr, stdout } = await run(path.resolve(__dirname, "./simple-case"), [
+      "--extends",
+      pathToFileURL(path.resolve(__dirname, "./simple-case/override.config.js")).toString(),
+    ]);
+
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+    expect(stderr).toBeFalsy();
+    expect(stdout).toContain("override.config.js");
+    expect(stdout).toContain("derived.webpack.config.js");
+    expect(stdout).toContain("name: 'override_config'");
+    expect(stdout).toContain("mode: 'development'");
+  });
+
   it("should throw an error on recursive", async () => {
     const { exitCode, stderr, stdout } = await run(path.resolve(__dirname, "./recursive-extends"));
 
diff --git a/test/build/extends/file-protocol/base.webpack.config.mjs b/test/build/extends/file-protocol/base.webpack.config.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..9f7bf79aa30
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/build/extends/file-protocol/base.webpack.config.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+export default () => {
+  console.log("base.webpack.config.js");
+
+  return {
+    name: "base_config",
+    mode: "development",
+    entry: "./src/index.js",
+  };
+};
diff --git a/test/build/extends/file-protocol/override.config.mjs b/test/build/extends/file-protocol/override.config.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..b30dfb4ca99
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/build/extends/file-protocol/override.config.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+export default () => {
+  console.log("override.config.js");
+
+  return {
+    name: "override_config",
+    mode: "development",
+    entry: "./src/index.js",
+  };
+};
diff --git a/test/build/extends/file-protocol/package.json b/test/build/extends/file-protocol/package.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e8fed3d1cf9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/build/extends/file-protocol/package.json
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+{
+  "name": "test",
+  "version": "1.0.0",
+  "type": "module"
+}
diff --git a/test/build/extends/file-protocol/src/index.js b/test/build/extends/file-protocol/src/index.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..7a21c1b9d7d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/build/extends/file-protocol/src/index.js
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+console.log("index.js")
diff --git a/test/build/extends/file-protocol/webpack.config.mjs b/test/build/extends/file-protocol/webpack.config.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..fd628a12a39
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/build/extends/file-protocol/webpack.config.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+import WebpackCLITestPlugin from "../../../utils/webpack-cli-test-plugin.js";
+
+export default () => {
+  console.log("derived.webpack.config.js");
+
+  return {
+    extends: [import.meta.resolve("./base.webpack.config.mjs")],
+    plugins: [new WebpackCLITestPlugin()],
+  };
+};
diff --git a/test/build/extends/json/base.webpack.config.json b/test/build/extends/json/base.webpack.config.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..86265f6ec64
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/build/extends/json/base.webpack.config.json
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+{
+  "name": "base_config",
+  "mode": "development",
+  "entry": "./src/index.js"
+}
diff --git a/test/build/extends/json/override.config.mjs b/test/build/extends/json/override.config.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..b30dfb4ca99
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/build/extends/json/override.config.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+export default () => {
+  console.log("override.config.js");
+
+  return {
+    name: "override_config",
+    mode: "development",
+    entry: "./src/index.js",
+  };
+};
diff --git a/test/build/extends/json/package.json b/test/build/extends/json/package.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e8fed3d1cf9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/build/extends/json/package.json
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+{
+  "name": "test",
+  "version": "1.0.0",
+  "type": "module"
+}
diff --git a/test/build/extends/json/src/index.js b/test/build/extends/json/src/index.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..7a21c1b9d7d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/build/extends/json/src/index.js
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+console.log("index.js")
diff --git a/test/build/extends/json/webpack.config.mjs b/test/build/extends/json/webpack.config.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..1b54f52900b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/build/extends/json/webpack.config.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+import WebpackCLITestPlugin from "../../../utils/webpack-cli-test-plugin.js";
+
+export default () => {
+  console.log("derived.webpack.config.js");
+
+  return {
+    extends: [import.meta.resolve("./base.webpack.config.json")],
+    plugins: [new WebpackCLITestPlugin()],
+  };
+};
diff --git a/test/build/extends/require-resolve/base.webpack.config.js b/test/build/extends/require-resolve/base.webpack.config.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..db299e40fa5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/build/extends/require-resolve/base.webpack.config.js
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+module.exports = () => {
+  console.log("base.webpack.config.js");
+
+  return {
+    name: "base_config",
+    mode: "development",
+    entry: "./src/index.js",
+  };
+};
diff --git a/test/build/extends/require-resolve/override.config.js b/test/build/extends/require-resolve/override.config.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..bf79ce64650
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/build/extends/require-resolve/override.config.js
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+module.exports = () => {
+  console.log("override.config.js");
+
+  return {
+    name: "override_config",
+    mode: "development",
+    entry: "./src/index.js",
+  };
+};
diff --git a/test/build/extends/require-resolve/src/index.js b/test/build/extends/require-resolve/src/index.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..7a21c1b9d7d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/build/extends/require-resolve/src/index.js
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+console.log("index.js")
diff --git a/test/build/extends/require-resolve/webpack.config.js b/test/build/extends/require-resolve/webpack.config.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..5e9974c4318
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/build/extends/require-resolve/webpack.config.js
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+const WebpackCLITestPlugin = require("../../../utils/webpack-cli-test-plugin");
+
+module.exports = () => {
+  console.log("derived.webpack.config.js");
+
+  return {
+    extends: [require.resolve("./base.webpack.config.js")],
+    plugins: [new WebpackCLITestPlugin()],
+  };
+};
diff --git a/test/build/merge/config-absent/merge-config-absent.test.js b/test/build/merge/config-absent/merge-config-absent.test.js
index a1ab65de323..506e715927d 100644
--- a/test/build/merge/config-absent/merge-config-absent.test.js
+++ b/test/build/merge/config-absent/merge-config-absent.test.js
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 "use strict";
 
-const path = require("node:path");
-
 const { run } = require("../../../utils/test-utils");
 
 describe("merge flag configuration", () => {
@@ -19,6 +17,6 @@ describe("merge flag configuration", () => {
     // Since the process will exit, nothing on stdout
     expect(stdout).toBeFalsy();
     // Confirm that the user is notified
-    expect(stderr).toContain(`Failed to load '${path.resolve(__dirname, "./2.js")}' config`);
+    expect(stderr).toContain("Failed to load './2.js' config");
   });
 });
diff --git a/test/configtest/with-config-path/__snapshots__/with-config-path.test.js.snap.webpack5 b/test/configtest/with-config-path/__snapshots__/with-config-path.test.js.snap.webpack5
index 8f64293cc3c..f97b3daecd6 100644
--- a/test/configtest/with-config-path/__snapshots__/with-config-path.test.js.snap.webpack5
+++ b/test/configtest/with-config-path/__snapshots__/with-config-path.test.js.snap.webpack5
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 // Jest Snapshot v1, https://jestjs.io/docs/snapshot-testing
 
-exports[`'configtest' command with the configuration path option should throw error if configuration does not exist: stderr 1`] = `"[webpack-cli] Failed to load '<cwd>/test/configtest/with-config-path/a.js' config"`;
+exports[`'configtest' command with the configuration path option should throw error if configuration does not exist: stderr 1`] = `"[webpack-cli] Failed to load './a.js' config"`;
 
 exports[`'configtest' command with the configuration path option should throw error if configuration does not exist: stdout 1`] = `""`;
 
 exports[`'configtest' command with the configuration path option should throw syntax error: stderr 1`] = `
-"[webpack-cli] Failed to load '<cwd>/test/configtest/with-config-path/syntax-error.config.js' config
+"[webpack-cli] Failed to load './syntax-error.config.js' config
 ▶ ESM (\`import\`) failed:
   Unexpected token ';'
 
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ exports[`'configtest' command with the configuration path option should throw va
    -> Enable production optimizations or development hints."
 `;
 
-exports[`'configtest' command with the configuration path option should throw validation error: stdout 1`] = `"[webpack-cli] Validate '<cwd>/test/configtest/with-config-path/error.config.js'."`;
+exports[`'configtest' command with the configuration path option should throw validation error: stdout 1`] = `"[webpack-cli] Validate './error.config.js'."`;
 
 exports[`'configtest' command with the configuration path option should validate the config with alias 't': stderr 1`] = `
 "[webpack-cli] Invalid configuration object. Webpack has been initialized using a configuration object that does not match the API schema.
@@ -31,11 +31,11 @@ exports[`'configtest' command with the configuration path option should validate
    -> Enable production optimizations or development hints."
 `;
 
-exports[`'configtest' command with the configuration path option should validate the config with alias 't': stdout 1`] = `"[webpack-cli] Validate '<cwd>/test/configtest/with-config-path/error.config.js'."`;
+exports[`'configtest' command with the configuration path option should validate the config with alias 't': stdout 1`] = `"[webpack-cli] Validate './error.config.js'."`;
 
 exports[`'configtest' command with the configuration path option should validate webpack config successfully: stderr 1`] = `""`;
 
 exports[`'configtest' command with the configuration path option should validate webpack config successfully: stdout 1`] = `
-"[webpack-cli] Validate '<cwd>/test/configtest/with-config-path/basic.config.js'.
+"[webpack-cli] Validate './basic.config.js'.
 [webpack-cli] There are no validation errors in the given webpack configuration."
 `;
diff --git a/test/watch/basic/basic.test.js b/test/watch/basic/basic.test.js
index 72e74b30751..8ca22865a40 100644
--- a/test/watch/basic/basic.test.js
+++ b/test/watch/basic/basic.test.js
@@ -227,8 +227,6 @@ describe("basic", () => {
   });
 
   it("should log supplied config with watch", async () => {
-    const configPath = resolve(__dirname, "./log.config.js");
-
     let stderr = "";
 
     await runWatch(__dirname, ["watch", "--config", "log.config.js"], {
@@ -240,7 +238,7 @@ describe("basic", () => {
 
           if (/Compiler finished/.test(data)) {
             expect(stderr).toContain("Compiler starting...");
-            expect(stderr).toContain(`Compiler is using config: '${configPath}'`);
+            expect(stderr).toContain("Compiler is using config: 'log.config.js'");
             expect(stderr).toContain("Compiler finished");
 
             processKill(proc);