Remote code execution via CNAME heap overflow
Published Sep 16, 2026 · Updated Sep 16, 2026
Heap buffer overflow in NLnet Labs Unbound 1.26.0 and earlier allows remote attackers to crash the resolver or execute code. During CNAME synthesis, max-TTL rewriting overwrites a value referenced by a compression pointer; the resulting error path fails to advance the packet-buffer position and writes past the heap buffer. Exploitation requires a crafted upstream response and favorable heap layout; the bounded result is resolver crash, with code execution limited to specific systems and compilation options.
Summary
What happened
Heap buffer overflow in NLnet Labs Unbound 1.26.0 and earlier allows remote attackers to crash the resolver or execute code. During CNAME synthesis, max-TTL rewriting overwrites a value referenced by a compression pointer; the resulting error path fails to advance the packet-buffer position and writes past the heap buffer. Exploitation requires a crafted upstream response and favorable heap layout; the bounded result is resolver crash, with code execution limited to specific systems and compilation options.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-82717
- Published
- Sep 16, 2026
- Updated
- Sep 16, 2026
- Vendor
- NLnet Labs
- Product
- Unbound
- Classifications
- T1190
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Sep 16, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Sep 16, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.
Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=0 <1.26.1
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
No CVSS assessment is available in this record.
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
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
See the directory against your own environment.
Your stack
Check the software in your environment
Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.
Book a demo