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CVE-2022-30698· NVD / CVE Program· CNA NLnet Labs

Novel "ghost domain names" attack by introducing subdomain delegations

Noroxi assessment

Priority: Monitor (action score 26/100)

  • The sources we track (CISA KEV, Exploit-DB, Metasploit, Nuclei, GitHub) show no public exploit code or exploitation in the wild.
  • Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days: 1.1% (FIRST EPSS); higher than 66.5% of all records.
  • Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it. A low-privileged account is enough. No user action is required. No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
  • Fixed version: python3-unbound (AlmaLinux:8) 1.16.2-2.el8; unbound (AlmaLinux:8) 1.16.2-2.el8; unbound-devel (AlmaLinux:8) 1.16.2-2.el8.

Low priority for now. Upgrade to python3-unbound (AlmaLinux:8) 1.16.2-2.el8; unbound (AlmaLinux:8) 1.16.2-2.el8; unbound-devel (AlmaLinux:8) 1.16.2-2.el8 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

Primary sources: NVD · CVE.org · FIRST EPSS

NLnet Labs Unbound, up to and including version 1.16.1 is vulnerable to a novel type of the "ghost domain names" attack. The vulnerability works by targeting an Unbound instance. Unbound is queried for a subdomain of a rogue domain name. The rogue nameserver returns delegation information for the subdomain that updates Unbound's delegation cache. This action can be repeated before expiry of the delegation information by querying Unbound for a second level subdomain which the rogue nameserver provides new delegation information. Since Unbound is a child-centric resolver, the ever-updating child delegation information can keep a rogue domain name resolvable long after revocation. From version 1.16.2 on, Unbound checks the validity of parent delegation records before using cached delegation information.

MediumCVSS 6.5 · v3.1—No exploit Fix available
Published
Aug 1, 2022
Updated
Jun 17, 2026
EPSS
1.1% · 66th percentile

Report tools

JSON

Action score

26

Monitor

Low priority for now.

CVSS
26 / 40 · 6.5 / 10
CISA KEV
0 / 30 · Not listed
EPSS
0 / 30 · 1.1%

Get told when this record changes

  • Not in KEV: no record of exploitation in the wild
  • No public exploit code on record
  • A fix has been released

If any of these changes, we'll tell you in the daily email digest.

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When you'll hear from us

  • when it enters CISA KEV
  • when exploit code appears or is weaponized
  • when the record is updated (including a fixed version)
  • when EPSS rises 20 points in a week

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Noroxi 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.

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Affected 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.

VendorProduct
nlnetlabsunbound
fedoraprojectfedora

Affected versions

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

  • fedoraproject fedora35
  • fedoraproject fedora36
  • nlnetlabs unboundbefore 1.16.2

Versions reported by the vendor

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

  • NLnet Labs Unbound

    • unspecified and later · up to and including 1.16.1affected

Package-level exposure

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

EcosystemPackageAffected rangeFix
AlmaLinux:8python3-unboundbefore 1.16.2-2.el81.16.2-2.el8
AlmaLinux:8unboundbefore 1.16.2-2.el81.16.2-2.el8
AlmaLinux:8unbound-develbefore 1.16.2-2.el81.16.2-2.el8
AlmaLinux:8unbound-libsbefore 1.16.2-2.el81.16.2-2.el8
AlmaLinux:9python3-unboundbefore 1.16.2-2.el91.16.2-2.el9
AlmaLinux:9unboundbefore 1.16.2-2.el91.16.2-2.el9
AlmaLinux:9unbound-develbefore 1.16.2-2.el91.16.2-2.el9
AlmaLinux:9unbound-libsbefore 1.16.2-2.el91.16.2-2.el9
Alpine:v3.17unboundbefore 1.16.2-r01.16.2-r0
Debian:10unboundbefore 1.9.0-2+deb10u31.9.0-2+deb10u3
Debian:12unboundbefore 1.16.2-11.16.2-1
openSUSE:Tumbleweedunboundbefore 1.16.2-1.11.16.2-1.1
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreampython3-unboundbefore 0:1.16.2-2.el80:1.16.2-2.el8
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreampython3-unbound-debuginfobefore 0:1.16.2-2.el80:1.16.2-2.el8
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreamunboundbefore 0:1.16.2-2.el80:1.16.2-2.el8
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreamunbound-debuginfobefore 0:1.16.2-2.el80:1.16.2-2.el8
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreamunbound-debugsourcebefore 0:1.16.2-2.el80:1.16.2-2.el8
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreamunbound-develbefore 0:1.16.2-2.el80:1.16.2-2.el8
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreamunbound-libsbefore 0:1.16.2-2.el80:1.16.2-2.el8
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreamunbound-libs-debuginfobefore 0:1.16.2-2.el80:1.16.2-2.el8
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstreampython3-unboundbefore 0:1.16.2-2.el90:1.16.2-2.el9
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstreampython3-unbound-debuginfobefore 0:1.16.2-2.el90:1.16.2-2.el9
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstreamunboundbefore 0:1.16.2-2.el90:1.16.2-2.el9
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstreamunbound-debuginfobefore 0:1.16.2-2.el90:1.16.2-2.el9

+18

Same product

nlnetlabs: all records

Other highest-scoring records for the same primary product.

  • CVE-2019-25042Unbound before 1.9.5 allows an out-of-bounds write via a compressed name in rdata_copy.
    40Plan
  • CVE-2019-25039Unbound before 1.9.5 allows an integer overflow in a size calculation in respip/respip.c.
    40Plan
  • CVE-2019-25038Unbound before 1.9.5 allows an integer overflow in a size calculation in dnscrypt/dnscrypt.c.
    40Plan

Published before and after this one in the same product

  • ← EarlierCVE-2019-25040Apr 27, 2021 · Unbound before 1.9.5 allows an infinite loop via a compressed name in dname_pkt_copy.
    31Monitor
  • ← EarlierCVE-2019-25041Apr 27, 2021 · Unbound before 1.9.5 allows an assertion failure via a compressed name in dname_pkt_copy.
    31Monitor
  • Later →CVE-2022-30699Aug 1, 2022 · Novel "ghost domain names" attack by updating almost expired delegation information
    26Monitor

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:python3-unbound1.16.2-2.el8 · AlmaLinux:8Package registry (OSV)
almalinux:unbound1.16.2-2.el8 · AlmaLinux:8Package registry (OSV)
almalinux:unbound-devel1.16.2-2.el8 · AlmaLinux:8Package registry (OSV)
almalinux:unbound-libs1.16.2-2.el8 · AlmaLinux:8Package registry (OSV)
alpine:unbound1.16.2-r0 · Alpine:v3.17Package registry (OSV)
debian:unbound1.16.2-1 · Debian:12Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:unbound1.20.0-150600.23.3.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.6Package registry (OSV)
red hat:python3-unbound0:1.16.2-2.el8 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:python3-unbound-debuginfo0:1.16.2-2.el8 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:unbound0:1.16.2-2.el8 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:unbound-debuginfo0:1.16.2-2.el8 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:unbound-debugsource0:1.16.2-2.el8 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:unbound-devel0:1.16.2-2.el8 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:unbound-libs0:1.16.2-2.el8 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:unbound-libs-debuginfo0:1.16.2-2.el8 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
rocky linux:unbound0:1.16.2-2.el8 · Rocky Linux:8Package registry (OSV)
suse:unbound1.20.0-150600.23.3.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP6Package registry (OSV)

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.

Credits

All researchers

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.

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.
  • A low-privileged account is enough.
  • No user action is required.
  • No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.

If successful

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

Weakness class (CWE)

CWE-613 · Insufficient Session Expiration

CVSS vector

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

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.

Change log

  1. Fix✗ → ✓

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

References

Show all references (4 more)

Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.

All records