Skip to content
Noroxi
CVE-2023-6516· NVD / CVE Program· CNA isc

Specific recursive query patterns may lead to an out-of-memory condition

To keep its cache database efficient, `named` running as a recursive resolver occasionally attempts to clean up the database. It uses several methods, including some that are asynchronous: a small chunk of memory pointing to the cache element that can be cleaned up is first allocated and then queued for later processing. It was discovered that if the resolver is continuously processing query patterns triggering this type of cache-database maintenance, `named` may not be able to handle the cleanup events in a timely manner. This in turn enables the list of queued cleanup events to grow infinitely large over time, allowing the configured `max-cache-size` limit to be significantly exceeded. This issue affects BIND 9 versions 9.16.0 through 9.16.45 and 9.16.8-S1 through 9.16.45-S1.

HighCVSS 7.5 · v3.1—No exploit Fix available
Published
Feb 13, 2024
Updated
Jun 17, 2026
EPSS
1.1% · 64th percentile
Follow this CVE

Sign in to follow · You’ll be notified if a followed record enters KEV, gets an exploit or is updated.

Report tools

JSON

Action score

30

Monitor

Low priority for now.

CVSS
30 / 40 · 7.5 / 10
CISA KEV
0 / 30 · Not listed
EPSS
0 / 30 · 1.1%

CISA SSVC decision

Exploitation
none
Automatable
yes
Technical impact
partial

Vulnrichment: CISA's decision-tree inputs.

CNA vs NVD score

NVD
—
CNA · isc
7.5
NVD has not scored this yet; the score shown is the CNA’s.

The score given by the assigning authority versus NVD’s independent score. A gap means the severity is contested.

Affected systems

VendorProduct
iscbind
netappactive iq unified manager

Affected versions

NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.

  • isc bind9.16.0 and later · up to 9.16.45 inclusive
  • isc bind9.16.11
  • isc bind9.16.12
  • isc bind9.16.13
  • isc bind9.16.14
  • isc bind9.16.21
  • isc bind9.16.32
  • isc bind9.16.36
  • isc bind9.16.43
  • isc bind9.16.45
  • isc bind9.16.8
  • netapp active iq unified managerall versions

Versions reported by the vendor

Affected version ranges reported by the assigning authority (isc). Independent of NVD's CPE analysis and usually ahead of it.

  • ISC BIND 9

    • 9.16.0 and later · up to and including 9.16.45affected
    • 9.16.8-S1 and later · up to and including 9.16.45-S1affected

Package-level exposure

OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.

EcosystemPackageAffected rangeFix
AlmaLinux:8bind9.16before 32:9.16.23-0.16.el8_9.2.alma.132:9.16.23-0.16.el8_9.2.alma.1
AlmaLinux:8bind9.16-chrootbefore 32:9.16.23-0.16.el8_9.2.alma.132:9.16.23-0.16.el8_9.2.alma.1
AlmaLinux:8bind9.16-develbefore 32:9.16.23-0.16.el8_9.2.alma.132:9.16.23-0.16.el8_9.2.alma.1
AlmaLinux:8bind9.16-dnssec-utilsbefore 32:9.16.23-0.16.el8_9.2.alma.132:9.16.23-0.16.el8_9.2.alma.1
AlmaLinux:8bind9.16-docbefore 32:9.16.23-0.16.el8_9.2.alma.132:9.16.23-0.16.el8_9.2.alma.1
AlmaLinux:8bind9.16-libsbefore 32:9.16.23-0.16.el8_9.2.alma.132:9.16.23-0.16.el8_9.2.alma.1
AlmaLinux:8bind9.16-licensebefore 32:9.16.23-0.16.el8_9.2.alma.132:9.16.23-0.16.el8_9.2.alma.1
AlmaLinux:8bind9.16-utilsbefore 32:9.16.23-0.16.el8_9.2.alma.132:9.16.23-0.16.el8_9.2.alma.1
AlmaLinux:8python3-bind9.16before 32:9.16.23-0.16.el8_9.2.alma.132:9.16.23-0.16.el8_9.2.alma.1
AlmaLinux:9bindbefore 32:9.16.23-14.el9_3.432:9.16.23-14.el9_3.4
AlmaLinux:9bindbefore 32:9.16.23-18.el9_4.132:9.16.23-18.el9_4.1
AlmaLinux:9bind-chrootbefore 32:9.16.23-18.el9_4.132:9.16.23-18.el9_4.1
AlmaLinux:9bind-chrootbefore 32:9.16.23-14.el9_3.432:9.16.23-14.el9_3.4
AlmaLinux:9bind-develbefore 32:9.16.23-14.el9_3.432:9.16.23-14.el9_3.4
AlmaLinux:9bind-develbefore 32:9.16.23-18.el9_4.132:9.16.23-18.el9_4.1
AlmaLinux:9bind-dnssec-docbefore 32:9.16.23-18.el9_4.132:9.16.23-18.el9_4.1
AlmaLinux:9bind-dnssec-docbefore 32:9.16.23-14.el9_3.432:9.16.23-14.el9_3.4
AlmaLinux:9bind-dnssec-utilsbefore 32:9.16.23-18.el9_4.132:9.16.23-18.el9_4.1
AlmaLinux:9bind-dnssec-utilsbefore 32:9.16.23-14.el9_3.432:9.16.23-14.el9_3.4
AlmaLinux:9bind-docbefore 32:9.16.23-18.el9_4.132:9.16.23-18.el9_4.1
AlmaLinux:9bind-docbefore 32:9.16.23-14.el9_3.432:9.16.23-14.el9_3.4
AlmaLinux:9bind-dyndb-ldapbefore 11.9-8.el9_3.3.alma.111.9-8.el9_3.3.alma.1
AlmaLinux:9bind-dyndb-ldapbefore 11.9-9.el9_4.alma.111.9-9.el9_4.alma.1
AlmaLinux:9bind-libsbefore 32:9.16.23-14.el9_3.432:9.16.23-14.el9_3.4

+96

Same product

isc: all records

Other highest-scoring records for the same primary product.

  • CVE-2015-5477named in ISC BIND 9.x before 9.9.7-P2 and 9.10.x before 9.10.2-P3 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (REQUIRE assertion fa
    58Plan
  • CVE-2016-2776buffer.c in named in ISC BIND 9 before 9.9.9-P3, 9.10.x before 9.10.4-P3, and 9.11.x before 9.11.0rc3 does not properly construct responses,
    57Plan
  • CVE-2016-1286named in ISC BIND 9.x before 9.9.8-P4 and 9.10.x before 9.10.3-P4 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (assertion failure an
    53Plan
  • CVE-2020-8625A vulnerability in BIND's GSSAPI security policy negotiation can be targeted by a buffer overflow attack
    51Plan
  • CVE-2020-8617A logic error in code which checks TSIG validity can be used to trigger an assertion failure in tsig.c
    51Plan
  • CVE-2001-0010Buffer overflow in transaction signature (TSIG) handling code in BIND 8 allows remote attackers to gain root privileges.
    49Plan

Remediation

Which version to upgrade to

Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.

Product / packageFixed versionSource
almalinux:bind32:9.16.23-14.el9_3.4 · AlmaLinux:9Package registry (OSV)
almalinux:bind-chroot32:9.16.23-14.el9_3.4 · AlmaLinux:9Package registry (OSV)
almalinux:bind-devel32:9.16.23-14.el9_3.4 · AlmaLinux:9Package registry (OSV)
almalinux:bind9.1632:9.16.23-0.16.el8_9.2.alma.1 · AlmaLinux:8Package registry (OSV)
almalinux:bind9.16-chroot32:9.16.23-0.16.el8_9.2.alma.1 · AlmaLinux:8Package registry (OSV)
almalinux:bind9.16-devel32:9.16.23-0.16.el8_9.2.alma.1 · AlmaLinux:8Package registry (OSV)
almalinux:bind9.16-dnssec-utils32:9.16.23-0.16.el8_9.2.alma.1 · AlmaLinux:8Package registry (OSV)
almalinux:bind9.16-doc32:9.16.23-0.16.el8_9.2.alma.1 · AlmaLinux:8Package registry (OSV)
almalinux:bind9.16-libs32:9.16.23-0.16.el8_9.2.alma.1 · AlmaLinux:8Package registry (OSV)
almalinux:bind9.16-license32:9.16.23-0.16.el8_9.2.alma.1 · AlmaLinux:8Package registry (OSV)
almalinux:bind9.16-utils32:9.16.23-0.16.el8_9.2.alma.1 · AlmaLinux:8Package registry (OSV)
almalinux:python3-bind9.1632:9.16.23-0.16.el8_9.2.alma.1 · AlmaLinux:8Package registry (OSV)
alpine:bind9.16.48-r0 · Alpine:v3.16Package registry (OSV)
debian:bind91:9.17.19-1 · Debian:12Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:bind9.16.48-150500.8.16.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.5Package registry (OSV)
red hat:bind9.1632:9.16.23-0.7.el8_6.5 · Red Hat:rhel_eus:8.6::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:bind9.16-chroot32:9.16.23-0.7.el8_6.5 · Red Hat:rhel_eus:8.6::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:bind9.16-debuginfo32:9.16.23-0.7.el8_6.5 · Red Hat:rhel_eus:8.6::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:bind9.16-debugsource32:9.16.23-0.7.el8_6.5 · Red Hat:rhel_eus:8.6::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:bind9.16-devel32:9.16.23-0.7.el8_6.5 · Red Hat:rhel_eus:8.6::crbPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:bind9.16-dnssec-utils32:9.16.23-0.7.el8_6.5 · Red Hat:rhel_eus:8.6::crbPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:bind9.16-dnssec-utils-debuginfo32:9.16.23-0.7.el8_6.5 · Red Hat:rhel_eus:8.6::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:bind9.16-libs32:9.16.23-0.7.el8_6.5 · Red Hat:rhel_eus:8.6::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:bind9.16-libs-debuginfo32:9.16.23-0.7.el8_6.5 · Red Hat:rhel_eus:8.6::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:bind9.16-license32:9.16.23-0.7.el8_6.5 · Red Hat:rhel_eus:8.6::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:bind9.16-utils32:9.16.23-0.7.el8_6.5 · Red Hat:rhel_eus:8.6::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:bind9.16-utils-debuginfo32:9.16.23-0.7.el8_6.5 · Red Hat:rhel_eus:8.6::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
rocky linux:bind2:9.16.23-18.el9_4.1 · Rocky Linux:9Package registry (OSV)
rocky linux:bind-dyndb-ldap0:11.9-9.el9_4 · Rocky Linux:9Package registry (OSV)
rocky linux:bind9.162:9.16.23-0.16.el8_9.2 · Rocky Linux:8Package registry (OSV)

+2

Exploit status

No known public exploit

No public exploit has been observed yet. That doesn't mean you're safe, only that the bar is a little higher.

Research context

For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.

Timeline

From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.

No dated events beyond publication.

EPSS, last 120 days

FIRST EPSS daily score; only changes of 0.01 or more are recorded (step chart).

Patch and commit links

Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.

No commit or PR link among the references.

Finders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.

Variant candidates

Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.

  • CVE-2023-2828237 days apartnamed's configured cache size limit can be significantly exceeded
    31Monitor

Chain candidates

An authentication bypass and a privilege-requiring bug in the same product, published close together: combined they may become an unauthenticated path.

—

Bug bounty scope

No known public program.

Source: bounty-targets-data (public HackerOne, Bugcrowd, Intigriti, YesWeHack listings).

Technical details

Attack conditions

  • Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it.
  • No account or password is required.
  • No user action is required.
  • No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.

If successful

Confidentiality
none
Integrity
none
Availability
high · the service can be disrupted
Attack vector
Network
Attack complexity
Low
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality impact
None
Integrity impact
None
Availability impact
High

CVSS vector

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

nvd-secondary

Noroxi analysis

No Noroxi analysis for this record yet

We don't hand-write analysis for all 385,000+ vulnerabilities; that wouldn't be honest. For notable, high-impact vulnerabilities our team writes the mechanism, detection and remediation steps.

We use this product, ask for help

Change log

  1. Fix✗ → ✓

For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →

References

All records