CVE-2026-50251

Published: Lug 22, 2026 Last Modified: Lug 24, 2026
ExploitDB:
Other exploit source:
Google Dorks:
MEDIUM 5,3
Attack Vector: network
Attack Complexity: low
Privileges Required: none
User Interaction: none
Scope: unchanged
Confidentiality: none
Integrity: none
Availability: low

Description

AI Translation Available

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.

EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System)

Trend Analysis

EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System)

Prevede la probabilità di sfruttamento basata su intelligence sulle minacce e sulle caratteristiche della vulnerabilità.

EPSS Score
0,0026
Percentile
0,2th
Updated

Single Data Point

Only one EPSS measurement is available for this CVE. Trend analysis requires multiple data points over time.

184

Incomplete List of Disallowed Inputs

Draft
Common Consequences
Security Scopes Affected:
Access Control
Potential Impacts:
Bypass Protection Mechanism
Applicable Platforms
All platforms may be affected
View CWE Details
Application

Unbound by Nlnetlabs

Version Range Affected
To 1.25.2 (exclusive)
cpe:2.3:a:nlnetlabs:unbound:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Common Platform Enumeration - Standardized vulnerability identification
https://www.nlnetlabs.nl/downloads/unbound/CVE-2026-50251.txt