CVE-2026-4438

gethostbyaddr and gethostbyaddr_r return invalid DNS hostnames

Published Mar 20, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 5.4 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
Calling gethostbyaddr or gethostbyaddr_r with a configured nsswitch.conf that specifies the library's DNS backend in the GNU C library version 2.34 to version 2.43 could result in an invalid DNS hostname being returned to the caller in violation of the DNS specification.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8611-1 GNU C Library vulnerabilities
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Gnu
Gnu glibc
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Gnu
Gnu glibc
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-88
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 4.0, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N'}

ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.4, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-838
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 4.0, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N'}

threat_severity

Low

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared The Gnu C Library
The Gnu C Library glibc
Vendors & Products The Gnu C Library
The Gnu C Library glibc
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Calling gethostbyaddr or gethostbyaddr_r with a configured nsswitch.conf that specifies the library's DNS backend in the GNU C library version 2.34 to version 2.43 could result in an invalid DNS hostname being returned to the caller in violation of the DNS specification.
Title gethostbyaddr and gethostbyaddr_r return invalid DNS hostnames
Weaknesses CWE-20
References
Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
glibc
Published
Updated
Oct 15, 2026, 1:12 AM
Reserved
Mar 19, 2026, 7:55 PM
Status
Modified
Published
Mar 20, 2026, 8:16 PM
Modified
Jul 14, 2026, 1:18 PM
Severity
Low
Public date
Mar 20, 2026, 7:59 PM