CVE-2026-62994Public exploitNetwork attack vector

DNS request disruption via empty transfer batch

Published Jul 16, 2026 · Updated Jul 16, 2026

Denial of service in CoreDNS 1.9.4 through 1.14.4 allows remote attackers permitted to request AXFR to disrupt DNS requests. The transfer plugin indexes records[0] without checking whether k8s_external emitted an empty DNS-record batch for a portless headless endpoint. The path requires headless zone transfers and matching Kubernetes state; normal mode returns SERVFAIL, while debug mode can crash the process.

CVSS severity3.7
Low
EPSS probability0.46%
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 CoreDNS 1.9.4 through 1.14.4 allows remote attackers permitted to request AXFR to disrupt DNS requests. The transfer plugin indexes records[0] without checking whether k8s_external emitted an empty DNS-record batch for a portless headless endpoint. The path requires headless zone transfers and matching Kubernetes state; normal mode returns SERVFAIL, while debug mode can crash the process.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-62994
Published
Jul 16, 2026
Updated
Jul 16, 2026
Vendor
CoreDNS
Product
CoreDNS
Classifications
CWE-248, CWE-755, T1499.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 16, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jul 16, 2026Record 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=>= 1.9.4, < 1.14.5

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

CoreDNS · CoreDNSversion=>= 1.9.4, < 1.14.5

Published CVSS scores

3.7GitHubCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L

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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-248Uncaught Exception
CWE-755Improper Handling of Exceptional Conditions
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

Public exploit references

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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