CVE-2023-31442Network attack vector

Service redirection via predictable DNS transaction IDs

Published May 11, 2023 · Updated Jan 27, 2025

DNS poisoning in Lightbend Akka actor 2.5.14 through 2.8.0 allows remote attackers to redirect async-dns service discovery. The async-dns resolver generates predictable DNS transaction IDs and insufficiently validates responses, allowing substitution of discovered service addresses. Exposure requires Akka Discovery in DNS mode or Cluster Bootstrap; unauthenticated services can send data to an attacker-controlled endpoint, while authenticated services lose access.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability0.65%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

DNS poisoning in Lightbend Akka actor 2.5.14 through 2.8.0 allows remote attackers to redirect async-dns service discovery. The async-dns resolver generates predictable DNS transaction IDs and insufficiently validates responses, allowing substitution of discovered service addresses. Exposure requires Akka Discovery in DNS mode or Cluster Bootstrap; unauthenticated services can send data to an attacker-controlled endpoint, while authenticated services lose access.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-31442
Published
May 11, 2023
Updated
Jan 27, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
T1557
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 11, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jan 27, 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
4.9AkkaCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L/E:P/RL:O/RC:R

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.

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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

T1557Adversary-in-the-Middle

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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