SEPTEMBER 20, 2026
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Case File

CVE-2026-50251

MEDIUM · CVSS 5.3 EPSS 0.25%

Source: NVD + CISA KEV + EPSS · Published 2026-07-22 · Last synced 2026-08-21

CyberRota Analysis

AI-Generated

Unbound versions up to 1.25.1 on Linux systems are vulnerable when the 'unwanted-reply-threshold' feature is enabled, allowing an attacker to exploit glue records of 0.0.0.0/::0 to trigger continuous cache flushes. This can lead to service disruption as the cache is cleared indefinitely without the need for spoofed packets. Organizations utilizing Unbound for DNS resolution should prioritize patching this vulnerability to mitigate potential denial-of-service risks.

CVE
CVE-2026-50251
Severity
MEDIUM
CVSS
5.3
EPSS
0.25%
Linux

Original NVD Description

In NLnet Labs Unbound up to and including version 1.25.1, when 'unwanted-reply-threshold' is enabled (set to any value greater than zero), glue records of 0.0.0.0/::0 can short-circuit Unbound, on systems that can direct such traffic, by issuing DNS queries and receiving seemingly unwanted replies since the remote IP does not match the original source IP of 0.0.0.0/::0. This behavior keeps on looping for the glue records and pushing the counter to the configured 'unwanted-reply-threshold' that triggers a defensive cache clear. A malicious actor who controls a delegation that returns in-bailiwick glue of 0.0.0.0/::0 can drive the counter to the limit of 'unwanted-reply-threshold' to the threshold and trigger a cache clean of the message and rrset caches; at will, indefinitely, without sending a single spoofed packet. The iterator uses the 0.0.0.0/::0 glue, and a system that can route this (e.g., Linux kernel routes the datagram over loopback), Unbound's own listener answers from 127.0.0.1. Because of the mismatch of 0.0.0.0 and 127.0.0.1, in this example, Unbound accounts the reply as an unwanted (probably spoofed) answer. The counter resets to zero on every cache flush, so the attack loops forever.

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