CVE-2023-22617Network attack vector

Remote service crash via recursive DS retrieval

Published Jan 21, 2023 · Updated Apr 3, 2025

Uncontrolled recursion in PowerDNS Recursor 4.8.0 allows remote attackers to crash the DNS service with a query for a misconfigured domain. During DS-record retrieval in QName-minimization fallback mode, the resolver wrongly applies QName minimization and repeats resolution until its stack is exhausted. The trigger requires network access to the recursor and a name under a misconfigured domain; a supervisor can restart the process, limiting the interruption.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability7.32%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Uncontrolled recursion in PowerDNS Recursor 4.8.0 allows remote attackers to crash the DNS service with a query for a misconfigured domain. During DS-record retrieval in QName-minimization fallback mode, the resolver wrongly applies QName minimization and repeats resolution until its stack is exhausted. The trigger requires network access to the recursor and a name under a misconfigured domain; a supervisor can restart the process, limiting the interruption.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-22617
Published
Jan 21, 2023
Updated
Apr 3, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-674, T1499.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 21, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 3, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

7.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
8.2PowerDNSCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:H/E:H/RL:U/RC:C

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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-674Uncontrolled Recursion
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

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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