CVE-2014-3484Network attack vector

Remote crash via malformed DNS response

Published Feb 20, 2020 · Updated Aug 6, 2024

Buffer overflow in musl libc __dn_expand before 1.1.2 allows remote attackers to crash programs via malformed DNS responses. The parser copies DNS label data into a bounded stack buffer without sufficient length validation and can loop indefinitely on invalid lengths. Exploitation requires control of a configured nameserver or forged UDP responses, with impact limited to process crash or other unspecified effects.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability2.20%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Buffer overflow in musl libc __dn_expand before 1.1.2 allows remote attackers to crash programs via malformed DNS responses. The parser copies DNS label data into a bounded stack buffer without sufficient length validation and can loop indefinitely on invalid lengths. Exploitation requires control of a configured nameserver or forged UDP responses, with impact limited to process crash or other unspecified effects.

The record

CVE
CVE-2014-3484
Published
Feb 20, 2020
Updated
Aug 6, 2024
Vendor
musl
Product
musl libc
Classifications
CWE-787, T1203
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 20, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 6, 2024Record 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.

  1. Affected versionversion=0.9.13 through 1.0.3
  2. Affected versionversion=1.1x before 1.1.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

musl · musl libcversion=0.9.13 through 1.0.3; version=1.1x before 1.1.2

Published CVSS scores

9.8NISTCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.5NISTAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-787Out-of-bounds Write
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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