CVE-2026-69186

c-ares: Memory-amplification denial of service via unvalidated DNS header record counts

Published Sep 18, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 5.3 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
c-ares is an asynchronous resolver library. Prior to 1.34.7, ares_dns_parse() trusts the attacker-controlled ANCOUNT, NSCOUNT, and ARCOUNT fields before confirming that the DNS response contains enough bytes for the claimed records. Because process_answer() invokes parsing before transaction ID and question validation, a malicious DNS response can cause ares_dns_record_rr_prealloc() and ares_array_set_size() to reserve disproportionate heap memory for a tiny message. Repeated responses create large allocation and release cycles that can degrade or deny name resolution, without causing memory corruption or information disclosure. This issue is fixed in version 1.34.7.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8951-1 c-ares vulnerabilities
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared C-ares
C-ares c-ares
Vendors & Products C-ares
C-ares c-ares
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description c-ares is an asynchronous resolver library. Prior to 1.34.7, ares_dns_parse() trusts the attacker-controlled ANCOUNT, NSCOUNT, and ARCOUNT fields before confirming that the DNS response contains enough bytes for the claimed records. Because process_answer() invokes parsing before transaction ID and question validation, a malicious DNS response can cause ares_dns_record_rr_prealloc() and ares_array_set_size() to reserve disproportionate heap memory for a tiny message. Repeated responses create large allocation and release cycles that can degrade or deny name resolution, without causing memory corruption or information disclosure. This issue is fixed in version 1.34.7.
Title c-ares: Memory-amplification denial of service via unvalidated DNS header record counts
Weaknesses CWE-400
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.3, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L'}

ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'yes', 'Exploitation': 'poc', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
GitHub_M
Published
Updated
Sep 18, 2026, 7:51 PM
Reserved
Aug 3, 2026, 4:00 PM
Status
Awaiting Analysis
Published
Sep 18, 2026, 6:17 PM
Modified
Sep 23, 2026, 6:12 PM
Severity
Important
Public date
Sep 18, 2026, 5:25 PM