CVE-2025-59030Network attack vector

Service interruption via TCP NOTIFY cache eviction

Published Dec 9, 2025 · Updated Dec 9, 2025

Denial of service in affected PowerDNS Recursor releases allows remote attackers to clear DNS caches via TCP NOTIFY queries. The TCP question handler in rec-tcp.cc passes insufficiently validated NOTIFY messages to handleNotify, which removes cached records. Any client that can reach the TCP DNS listener needs no credentials; repeated eviction interrupts recursive resolution without system compromise.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability0.58%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Denial of service in affected PowerDNS Recursor releases allows remote attackers to clear DNS caches via TCP NOTIFY queries. The TCP question handler in rec-tcp.cc passes insufficiently validated NOTIFY messages to handleNotify, which removes cached records. Any client that can reach the TCP DNS listener needs no credentials; repeated eviction interrupts recursive resolution without system compromise.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-59030
Published
Dec 9, 2025
Updated
Dec 9, 2025
Vendor
PowerDNS
Product
PowerDNS Recursor
Classifications
CWE-276, T1499
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 9, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Dec 9, 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?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=5.1.0 <5.1.9
  2. Affected versionversion=5.2.0 <5.2.7
  3. Affected versionversion=5.3.0 <5.3.3

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

PowerDNS · PowerDNS Recursorversion=5.1.0 <5.1.9; version=5.2.0 <5.2.7; version=5.3.0 <5.3.3

Published CVSS scores

7.5PowerDNSCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

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-276Incorrect Default Permissions
T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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