CVE-2025-11232

Invalid characters cause assert

Published Oct 29, 2025 CVSS 3.1 · 7.5 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
To trigger the issue, three configuration parameters must have specific settings: "hostname-char-set" must be left at the default setting, which is "[^A-Za-z0-9.-]"; "hostname-char-replacement" must be empty (the default); and "ddns-qualifying-suffix" must *NOT* be empty (the default is empty). DDNS updates do not need to be enabled for this issue to manifest. A client that sends certain option content would then cause kea-dhcp4 to exit unexpectedly.
This issue affects Kea versions 3.0.1 through 3.0.1 and 3.1.1 through 3.1.2.

Remediation

Vendor Solution

Upgrade to the patched release most closely related to your current version of Kea: 3.0.2 or 3.1.3.


Vendor Workaround

Setting "hostname-char-replacement" to anything other than an empty value (suggestion: "x") is an effective workaround to this issue, regardless of other settings.

Tracking

Sign in to view the affected projects.

Advisories

No advisories available
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Isc
Isc kea
Vendors & Products Isc
Isc kea
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'yes', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description To trigger the issue, three configuration parameters must have specific settings: "hostname-char-set" must be left at the default setting, which is "[^A-Za-z0-9.-]"; "hostname-char-replacement" must be empty (the default); and "ddns-qualifying-suffix" must *NOT* be empty (the default is empty). DDNS updates do not need to be enabled for this issue to manifest. A client that sends certain option content would then cause kea-dhcp4 to exit unexpectedly. This issue affects Kea versions 3.0.1 through 3.0.1 and 3.1.1 through 3.1.2.
Title Invalid characters cause assert
Weaknesses CWE-823
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
isc
Published
Updated
Nov 4, 2025, 9:09 PM
Reserved
Oct 1, 2025, 3:15 PM
Status
Deferred
Published
Oct 29, 2025, 6:15 PM
Modified
Oct 8, 2026, 11:10 AM
Severity
Important
Public date
Oct 29, 2025, 6:02 PM