Heap-based buffer overflow in dnsmasq before 2.78 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) or execute arbitrary code via
Noroxi assessment
Priority: This week (action score 67/100)
- Public proof-of-concept code exists (Exploit-DB); there is no record of exploitation in the wild.
- Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days: 93.3% (FIRST EPSS); higher than 99.8% of all records.
- 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.
- Fixed version: dnsmasq (Alpine:v3.10) 2.78-r0; dnsmasq (Alpine:v3.3) 2.76-r1; dnsmasq (Alpine:v3.5) 2.76-r2.
Don’t wait for the next maintenance window. Upgrade to dnsmasq (Alpine:v3.10) 2.78-r0; dnsmasq (Alpine:v3.3) 2.76-r1; dnsmasq (Alpine:v3.5) 2.76-r2 or later.
Generated automatically from the record's data: CVSS (NVD and CNA), CISA KEV and SSVC, FIRST EPSS, exploit sources, fixed versions. How we calculate it
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 IPv6 router advertisement request.
- Published
- Oct 2, 2017
- Updated
- Jun 16, 2026
- EPSS
- 93.3% · 100th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-119
Report tools
Action score
67
This week
Don’t wait for the next maintenance window.
- CVSS
- 39 / 40 · 9.8 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 28 / 30 · 93.3%
Get told when this record changes
- Not in KEV: no record of exploitation in the wild
- Proof of concept exists, no weaponized module
- A fix has been released
If any of these changes, we'll tell you in the daily email digest.
Is your version affected? Check itNoroxi analysis
What does it mean in your environment?
The assessment above is generated automatically from the record's data; it doesn't know your environment. Our team verifies on your systems whether this vulnerability is actually exploitable and which mitigation is enough.
We use this product, ask for helpAffected systems
Is your version affected?
Pick the product and type the version you run. It's compared with this record's version ranges in your browser; the version isn't sent anywhere.
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| canonical | ubuntu linux | cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux |
| debian | debian linux | cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux |
| novell | leap | cpe:2.3:o:novell:leap |
| 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 |
| thekelleys | dnsmasq | cpe:2.3:a:thekelleys:dnsmasq |
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- canonical ubuntu linux14.04
- canonical ubuntu linux16.04
- canonical ubuntu linux17.04
- debian debian linux7.0
- debian debian linux7.1
- debian debian linux9.0
- redhat enterprise linux desktop7.0
- redhat enterprise linux server7.0
- redhat enterprise linux workstation7.0
- thekelleys dnsmasqup to 2.77 inclusive
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: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_eus:7.2::computenode | dnsmasq | before 0:2.66-14.el7_2.2 | 0:2.66-14.el7_2.2 |
| Red Hat:rhel_eus:7.2::computenode | dnsmasq-debuginfo | before 0:2.66-14.el7_2.2 | 0:2.66-14.el7_2.2 |
| Red Hat:rhel_eus:7.2::computenode | dnsmasq-utils | before 0:2.66-14.el7_2.2 | 0:2.66-14.el7_2.2 |
| Red Hat:rhel_eus:7.3::computenode | dnsmasq | before 0:2.66-21.el7_3.2 | 0:2.66-21.el7_3.2 |
| Red Hat:rhel_eus:7.3::computenode | dnsmasq-debuginfo | before 0:2.66-21.el7_3.2 | 0:2.66-21.el7_3.2 |
| Red Hat:rhel_eus:7.3::computenode | dnsmasq-utils | before 0:2.66-21.el7_3.2 | 0:2.66-21.el7_3.2 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Point of Sale 11 SP3 | dnsmasq | before 2.78-0.16.5.1 | 2.78-0.16.5.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP4 | dnsmasq | before 2.78-0.17.5.1 | 2.78-0.17.5.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12-LTSS | dnsmasq | before 2.78-6.6.1 | 2.78-6.6.1 |
| SUSE:OpenStack Cloud 6 | dnsmasq | before 2.78-18.3.1 | 2.78-18.3.1 |
Same product
canonical: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2021-3493The overlayfs implementation in the linux kernel did not properly validate with respect to user namespaces the setting of file capabilities KEV76This week
- CVE-2017-14493Stack-based buffer overflow in dnsmasq before 2.78 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) or execute arbitrary code vi64This week
- CVE-2016-4553client_side.cc in Squid before 3.5.18 and 4.x before 4.0.10 does not properly ignore the Host header when absolute-URI is provided, which al58Plan
- CVE-2017-14495Memory leak in dnsmasq before 2.78, when the --add-mac, --add-cpe-id or --add-subnet option is specified, allows remote attackers to cause a55Plan
- CVE-2016-4054Buffer overflow in Squid 3.x before 3.5.17 and 4.x before 4.0.9 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via crafted Edge Side Incl55Plan
- CVE-2017-14496Integer underflow in the add_pseudoheader function in dnsmasq before 2.78 , when the --add-mac, --add-cpe-id or --add-subnet option is speci50Plan
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
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 |
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-1 d
- Published
- TodayOct 12, 2026+3297 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-119 · Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory BufferCVSS vector
CVSS:3.0/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.
Attack patterns (CAPEC)
- Buffer Overflow via Environment VariablesCAPEC-10likelihood: High · High
- Overflow BuffersCAPEC-100likelihood: High · Very High
- Buffer ManipulationCAPEC-123likelihood: High · Very High
- Client-side Injection-induced Buffer OverflowCAPEC-14likelihood: Medium · High
- Filter Failure through Buffer OverflowCAPEC-24likelihood: High · High
- MIME ConversionCAPEC-42likelihood: High · High
- Overflow Binary Resource FileCAPEC-44likelihood: High · Very High
- Buffer Overflow via Symbolic LinksCAPEC-45likelihood: High · High
ATT&CK techniques
—
Change log
- Fix✗ → ✓
For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →
References
- lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2017-10/msg00006.html
- nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/4561
- thekelleys.org.uk/dnsmasq/CHANGELOG
- thekelleys.org.uk/gitweb/?p=dnsmasq.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=24036ea507862c7b7898b68289c8130f85599c10
- www.arubanetworks.com/assets/alert/ARUBA-PSA-2017-005.txt
- www.debian.org/security/2017/dsa-3989
- www.securityfocus.com/bid/101085
- www.securitytracker.com/id/1039474
- www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3430-1
- www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3430-2
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:2836
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:2837
- access.redhat.com/security/vulnerabilities/3199382
- security.gentoo.org/glsa/201710-27
- security.googleblog.com/2017/10/behind-masq-yet-more-dns-and-dhcp.html
- www.exploit-db.com/exploits/42942/
- www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/973527
- www.mail-archive.com/dnsmasq-discuss%40lists.thekelleys.org.uk/msg11664.html
- www.mail-archive.com/dnsmasq-discuss%40lists.thekelleys.org.uk/msg11665.html
- www.synology.com/support/security/Synology_SA_17_59_Dnsmasq
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.