CVE-2026-81634

Possible heap buffer overflow during DNSSEC canonicalization

Published Sep 16, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 7.5 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In NLnet Labs Unbound up to and including 1.26.0, a 255 length query name with a large TCP response can lead to a heap buffer overflow during the RRSet canonicalisation routine. This is caused by missing to add the first owner name into the buffer length check. A malicious actor operating a malicious name server or tampering with an incoming response to Unbound (canonicalisation happens before DNSSEC validation), can trigger the vulnerability.

Remediation

Vendor Solution

This issue is fixed starting with version 1.26.1

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Debian DSA Debian DSA DSA-6507-1 unbound security update
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8946-1 Unbound vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8946-2 Unbound vulnerabilities
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:nlnetlabs:unbound:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Nlnetlabs
Nlnetlabs unbound
Vendors & Products Nlnetlabs
Nlnetlabs unbound
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 In NLnet Labs Unbound up to and including 1.26.0, a 255 length query name with a large TCP response can lead to a heap buffer overflow during the RRSet canonicalisation routine. This is caused by missing to add the first owner name into the buffer length check. A malicious actor operating a malicious name server or tampering with an incoming response to Unbound (canonicalisation happens before DNSSEC validation), can trigger the vulnerability.
Title Possible heap buffer overflow during DNSSEC canonicalization
Weaknesses CWE-122
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
NLnet Labs
Published
Updated
Sep 16, 2026, 2:32 PM
Reserved
Sep 7, 2026, 2:06 PM
Status
Analyzed
Published
Sep 16, 2026, 9:17 AM
Modified
Sep 23, 2026, 7:51 PM
Severity
Important
Public date
Sep 16, 2026, 8:30 AM