Heap-based buffer overflow in dnsmasq before 2.78 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) or execute arbitrary code via
Heap-based buffer overflow in dnsmasq before 2.78 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) or execute arbitrary code via a crafted DNS response.
- Published
- Oct 3, 2017
- Updated
- Jun 16, 2026
- EPSS
- 84.9% · 100th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-787
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Report tools
Action score
64
This week
Don’t wait for the next maintenance window.
- CVSS
- 39 / 40 · 9.8 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 25 / 30 · 84.9%
Affected systems
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| thekelleys | dnsmasq | cpe:2.3:a:thekelleys:dnsmasq |
| redhat | enterprise linux desktop | cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_desktop |
| redhat | enterprise linux server | cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server |
| redhat | enterprise linux workstation | cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_workstation |
| canonical | ubuntu linux | cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux |
| debian | debian linux | cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux |
| opensuse | leap | cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:leap |
| suse | linux enterprise debuginfo | cpe:2.3:a:suse:linux_enterprise_debuginfo |
| suse | linux enterprise point of sale | cpe:2.3:a:suse:linux_enterprise_point_of_sale |
| suse | linux enterprise server | cpe:2.3:o:suse:linux_enterprise_server |
| nvidia | linux for tegra | cpe:2.3:o:nvidia:linux_for_tegra |
| nvidia | jetson tk1 | cpe:2.3:h:nvidia:jetson_tk1 |
and 17 more
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- arista eos4.18 and later · up to 4.18.4.2f inclusive
- arista eosup to 4.15 inclusive
- arista eos4.16 and later · before 4.16.13m
- arista eos4.17 and later · before 4.17.8m
- arubanetworks arubaos6.5.0.0 and later · before 6.5.1.9
- arubanetworks arubaos8.1.0.0 and later · before 8.1.0.4
- arubanetworks arubaos6.5.4.0 and later · before 6.5.4.2
- arubanetworks arubaos6.3.1 and later · before 6.3.1.25
- arubanetworks arubaos6.4.4.0 and later · before 6.4.4.16
- arubanetworks arubaos6.5.3.0 and later · before 6.5.3.3
- canonical ubuntu linux12.04
- canonical ubuntu linux14.04
- canonical ubuntu linux16.04
- canonical ubuntu linux17.04
- debian debian linux7.0
- debian debian linux7.1
- debian debian linux8.0
- debian debian linux9.0
- huawei honor v9 play firmwarebefore jimmy-al00ac00b135
- nvidia geforce experience3.0 and later · before 3.10.0.55
Package-level exposure
OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine:v3.10 | dnsmasq | before 2.78-r0 | 2.78-r0 |
| Alpine:v3.3 | dnsmasq | before 2.76-r1 | 2.76-r1 |
| Alpine:v3.5 | dnsmasq | before 2.76-r2 | 2.76-r2 |
| Alpine:v3.6 | dnsmasq | before 2.76-r5 | 2.76-r5 |
| Debian:12 | dnsmasq | before 2.78-1 | 2.78-1 |
| Debian:7 | dnsmasq | before 2.62-3+deb7u4 | 2.62-3+deb7u4 |
| Debian:8 | dnsmasq | before 2.72-3+deb8u2 | 2.72-3+deb8u2 |
| Debian:9 | dnsmasq | before 2.76-5+deb9u1 | 2.76-5+deb9u1 |
| openSUSE:Tumbleweed | dnsmasq | before 2.86-1.1 | 2.86-1.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | dnsmasq | before 0:2.48-18.el6_9 | 0:2.48-18.el6_9 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | dnsmasq-debuginfo | before 0:2.48-18.el6_9 | 0:2.48-18.el6_9 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | dnsmasq-utils | before 0:2.48-18.el6_9 | 0:2.48-18.el6_9 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | dnsmasq | before 0:2.76-2.el7_4.2 | 0:2.76-2.el7_4.2 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | dnsmasq-debuginfo | before 0:2.76-2.el7_4.2 | 0:2.76-2.el7_4.2 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | dnsmasq-utils | before 0:2.76-2.el7_4.2 | 0:2.76-2.el7_4.2 |
| Red Hat:rhel_aus:5.9 | dnsmasq | before 0:2.45-2.el5_9.1 | 0:2.45-2.el5_9.1 |
| Red Hat:rhel_aus:5.9 | dnsmasq-debuginfo | before 0:2.45-2.el5_9.1 | 0:2.45-2.el5_9.1 |
| Red Hat:rhel_aus:6.4::server | dnsmasq | before 0:2.48-13.el6_4.1 | 0:2.48-13.el6_4.1 |
| Red Hat:rhel_aus:6.4::server | dnsmasq-debuginfo | before 0:2.48-13.el6_4.1 | 0:2.48-13.el6_4.1 |
| Red Hat:rhel_aus:6.4::server | dnsmasq-utils | before 0:2.48-13.el6_4.1 | 0:2.48-13.el6_4.1 |
| Red Hat:rhel_aus:6.5::server | dnsmasq | before 0:2.48-13.el6_5.1 | 0:2.48-13.el6_5.1 |
| Red Hat:rhel_aus:6.5::server | dnsmasq-debuginfo | before 0:2.48-13.el6_5.1 | 0:2.48-13.el6_5.1 |
| Red Hat:rhel_aus:6.5::server | dnsmasq-utils | before 0:2.48-13.el6_5.1 | 0:2.48-13.el6_5.1 |
| Red Hat:rhel_aus:6.6::server | dnsmasq | before 0:2.48-14.el6_6.1 | 0:2.48-14.el6_6.1 |
+19
Same product
thekelleys: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2020-25681A flaw was found in dnsmasq before version 2.83.56Plan
- CVE-2020-25682A flaw was found in dnsmasq before 2.83.53Plan
- CVE-2020-25687A flaw was found in dnsmasq before version 2.83.49Plan
- CVE-2020-25683A flaw was found in dnsmasq before version 2.83.49Plan
- CVE-2021-45957Dnsmasq 2.86 has a heap-based buffer overflow in answer_request (called from FuzzAnswerTheRequest and fuzz_rfc1035.c).40Plan
- CVE-2021-45956Dnsmasq 2.86 has a heap-based buffer overflow in print_mac (called from log_packet and dhcp_reply).40Plan
Remediation
Which version to upgrade to
Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.
| Product / package | Fixed version | Source |
|---|---|---|
| alpine:dnsmasq | 2.78-r0 · Alpine:v3.10 | Package registry (OSV) |
| debian:dnsmasq | 2.78-1 · Debian:12 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:dnsmasq | 2.86-1.1 · openSUSE:Tumbleweed | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:dnsmasq | 0:2.76-2.el7_4.2 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:dnsmasq-debuginfo | 0:2.76-2.el7_4.2 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:dnsmasq-utils | 0:2.76-2.el7_4.2 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:dnsmasq | 2.78-6.6.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12-LTSS | Package registry (OSV) |
Exploit status
Proof of concept available
A public proof of concept or detection signature exists. Exploit knowledge is out there; don't delay patching.
Evidence
- Exploit-DB entry ×1
- Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub ×1
Noroxi does not host or link to exploit code. Metasploit module names and Nuclei template ids are shown (names, not code); Exploit-DB entries and PoC repositories are given as counts only.
| Source | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Exploit-DB entry | dos | 2017-10-02 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:0 | 2017-10-30 |
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.
- First PoC-2 d
- Published
- TodaySep 30, 2026+3284 d
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.
Credits
All researchersFinders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.
No credits in the CNA record.
Variant candidates
Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.
No nightly-computed relations.
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
- high · data can be read
- Integrity
- high · data or configuration can be modified
- Availability
- high · the service can be disrupted
- Attack vector
- Network
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality impact
- High
- Integrity impact
- High
- Availability impact
- High
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-787 · Out-of-bounds WriteCVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
nvd-primary
Attack context
MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.
MITRE has no CAPEC/ATT&CK mapping for this CWE.
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 helpChange log
- Fix✗ → ✓
For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →
References
- lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2017-10/msg00003.html
- lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2017-10/msg00004.html
- lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2017-10/msg00005.html
- lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2017-10/msg00006.html
- nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/4560
- nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/4561
- thekelleys.org.uk/dnsmasq/CHANGELOG
- thekelleys.org.uk/gitweb/?p=dnsmasq.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=0549c73b7ea6b22a3c49beb4d432f185a81efcbc
- www.arubanetworks.com/assets/alert/ARUBA-PSA-2017-005.txt
- www.debian.org/security/2017/dsa-3989
- www.huawei.com/en/psirt/security-advisories/huawei-sa-20171103-01-dnsmasq-en
- www.securityfocus.com/bid/101085
- www.securityfocus.com/bid/101977
- www.securitytracker.com/id/1039474
- www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3430-1
- www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3430-2
- www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3430-3
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:2836
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:2837
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:2838
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.