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CVE-2026-69184

HIGH 7.5

Published 2026-09-18 · Last modified 2026-09-21

c-ares is an asynchronous resolver library. Prior to 1.34.7, ares_dns_name_parse() enforces backward DNS compression pointers but does not bound the total pointer hops or assembled name length. A malicious DNS server can send a response containing a long descending pointer chain and many resource records whose NAME or RDATA fields refer to the chain, causing repeated decompression work that grows quadratically with message size. A single crafted response can stall the single-threaded c-ares event loop and deny DNS resolution, without causing memory corruption or information disclosure. This issue is fixed in version 1.34.7.

ELEVATED IMPACT

Severe if exploited (CVSS 7.5), but no known exploitation and low modeled probability. Patch on a normal cadence.

Exploitation likelihood

0.5%chance of exploitation in 30 days · 41st percentile

○ In CISA KEV ○ Catalogued PoC

Impact if exploited

7.5CVSS 3.1 · HIGH

  • ConfidentialityNone
  • IntegrityNone
  • AvailabilityHigh

What an attacker needs

  • ✓Access: Reachable over the network — no local access needed
  • ✓Privileges: No account or privileges required
  • ✓User interaction: No user interaction needed
  • ✓Complexity: No special conditions — reliably repeatable

✓ lowers the bar for an attacker · ⚠ raises it

Proof of concept

No public PoC is currently catalogued.

Search for new PoCs

Search GitHub now — results may be empty or unverified.

Tracked sources are checked daily for recent CVEs, including PoCs published after the original disclosure. A later release appears after a tracked source lists it and a refresh succeeds.

Data snapshot:

Affected

Vendors C Ares

Products C Ares

Weakness (CWE)

  • CWE-407: : Inefficient Algorithmic Complexity

CVSS vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

References and research data (JSON)

Vendor product assessments

Showing 32 of 76 vendor product statements; 44 omitted. Read the full vendor advisory.

  • c-ares-0:1.34.8-2.hum1@aarch64 as a component of Red Hat Hardened Images · fixed

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/[email protected]?arch=aarch64&distro=hummingbird-20251124&repository_id=public-hummingbird-aarch64-rpms

    • vendor fix: For details on how to apply this update, which includes the changes described in this advisory, refer to: https://images.redhat.com/ Vendor guidance
    • workaround: Configure applications that use c-ares to query only trusted DNS resolvers over a trusted network path. Restrict DNS responses from untrusted sources so a malicious or on-path resolver cannot deliver crafted replies.
    Red Hat · CVE-2026-69184 · Updated 2026-10-23T10:42:45+00:00
  • c-ares-0:1.34.8-2.hum1@src as a component of Red Hat Hardened Images · fixed

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/[email protected]?arch=src&distro=hummingbird-20251124&repository_id=public-hummingbird-source-rpms

    • vendor fix: For details on how to apply this update, which includes the changes described in this advisory, refer to: https://images.redhat.com/ Vendor guidance
    • workaround: Configure applications that use c-ares to query only trusted DNS resolvers over a trusted network path. Restrict DNS responses from untrusted sources so a malicious or on-path resolver cannot deliver crafted replies.
    Red Hat · CVE-2026-69184 · Updated 2026-10-23T10:42:45+00:00
  • c-ares-0:1.34.8-2.hum1@x86_64 as a component of Red Hat Hardened Images · fixed

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/[email protected]?arch=x86_64&distro=hummingbird-20251124&repository_id=public-hummingbird-x86_64-rpms

    • vendor fix: For details on how to apply this update, which includes the changes described in this advisory, refer to: https://images.redhat.com/ Vendor guidance
    • workaround: Configure applications that use c-ares to query only trusted DNS resolvers over a trusted network path. Restrict DNS responses from untrusted sources so a malicious or on-path resolver cannot deliver crafted replies.
    Red Hat · CVE-2026-69184 · Updated 2026-10-23T10:42:45+00:00
  • c-ares-devel-0:1.34.8-2.hum1@aarch64 as a component of Red Hat Hardened Images · fixed

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/[email protected]?arch=aarch64&distro=hummingbird-20251124&repository_id=public-hummingbird-aarch64-rpms

    • vendor fix: For details on how to apply this update, which includes the changes described in this advisory, refer to: https://images.redhat.com/ Vendor guidance
    • workaround: Configure applications that use c-ares to query only trusted DNS resolvers over a trusted network path. Restrict DNS responses from untrusted sources so a malicious or on-path resolver cannot deliver crafted replies.
    Red Hat · CVE-2026-69184 · Updated 2026-10-23T10:42:45+00:00
  • c-ares-devel-0:1.34.8-2.hum1@x86_64 as a component of Red Hat Hardened Images · fixed

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/[email protected]?arch=x86_64&distro=hummingbird-20251124&repository_id=public-hummingbird-x86_64-rpms

    • vendor fix: For details on how to apply this update, which includes the changes described in this advisory, refer to: https://images.redhat.com/ Vendor guidance
    • workaround: Configure applications that use c-ares to query only trusted DNS resolvers over a trusted network path. Restrict DNS responses from untrusted sources so a malicious or on-path resolver cannot deliver crafted replies.
    Red Hat · CVE-2026-69184 · Updated 2026-10-23T10:42:45+00:00
  • c-ares as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 · known affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/c-ares

    • workaround: Configure applications that use c-ares to query only trusted DNS resolvers over a trusted network path. Restrict DNS responses from untrusted sources so a malicious or on-path resolver cannot deliver crafted replies.
    • none available: Affected
    Red Hat · CVE-2026-69184 · Updated 2026-10-23T10:42:45+00:00
  • c-ares-devel as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 · known affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/c-ares-devel

    • workaround: Configure applications that use c-ares to query only trusted DNS resolvers over a trusted network path. Restrict DNS responses from untrusted sources so a malicious or on-path resolver cannot deliver crafted replies.
    • none available: Affected
    Red Hat · CVE-2026-69184 · Updated 2026-10-23T10:42:45+00:00
  • c-ares.src as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 · known affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/c-ares?arch=src

    • workaround: Configure applications that use c-ares to query only trusted DNS resolvers over a trusted network path. Restrict DNS responses from untrusted sources so a malicious or on-path resolver cannot deliver crafted replies.
    • none available: Affected
    Red Hat · CVE-2026-69184 · Updated 2026-10-23T10:42:45+00:00
  • openshift/ose-rhel-coreos-8 as a component of Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 · known affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:oci/ose-rhel-coreos-8?repository_url=registry.redhat.io/openshift/ose-rhel-coreos-8

    • workaround: Configure applications that use c-ares to query only trusted DNS resolvers over a trusted network path. Restrict DNS responses from untrusted sources so a malicious or on-path resolver cannot deliver crafted replies.
    • none available: Affected
    Red Hat · CVE-2026-69184 · Updated 2026-10-23T10:42:45+00:00
  • openshift/ose-rhel-coreos-9 as a component of Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 · known affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:oci/ose-rhel-coreos-9?repository_url=registry.redhat.io/openshift/ose-rhel-coreos-9

    • workaround: Configure applications that use c-ares to query only trusted DNS resolvers over a trusted network path. Restrict DNS responses from untrusted sources so a malicious or on-path resolver cannot deliver crafted replies.
    • none available: Affected
    Red Hat · CVE-2026-69184 · Updated 2026-10-23T10:42:45+00:00
  • nodejs as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 · known not affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    Reason: vulnerable code not present

    pkg:rpm/redhat/nodejs

    Red Hat · CVE-2026-69184 · Updated 2026-10-23T10:42:45+00:00
  • nodejs-full-i18n as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 · known not affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    Reason: vulnerable code not present

    pkg:rpm/redhat/nodejs-full-i18n

    Red Hat · CVE-2026-69184 · Updated 2026-10-23T10:42:45+00:00
  • c-ares-devel as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 · known not affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    Reason: vulnerable code not present

    pkg:rpm/redhat/c-ares-devel

    Red Hat · CVE-2026-69184 · Updated 2026-10-23T10:42:45+00:00
  • c-ares-devel as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 · known not affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    Reason: vulnerable code not present

    pkg:rpm/redhat/c-ares-devel

    Red Hat · CVE-2026-69184 · Updated 2026-10-23T10:42:45+00:00
  • c-ares-devel as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 · known not affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    Reason: vulnerable code not present

    pkg:rpm/redhat/c-ares-devel

    Red Hat · CVE-2026-69184 · Updated 2026-10-23T10:42:45+00:00
  • nodejs-docs (nodejs:22) as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 · known not affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    Reason: vulnerable code not present

    pkg:rpm/redhat/nodejs-docs?rpmmod=nodejs:22

    Red Hat · CVE-2026-69184 · Updated 2026-10-23T10:42:45+00:00
  • nodejs-full-i18n (nodejs:24) as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 · known not affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    Reason: vulnerable code not present

    pkg:rpm/redhat/nodejs-full-i18n?rpmmod=nodejs:24

    Red Hat · CVE-2026-69184 · Updated 2026-10-23T10:42:45+00:00
  • nodejs-nodemon.src (nodejs:22) as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 · known not affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    Reason: vulnerable code not present

    pkg:rpm/redhat/nodejs-nodemon?arch=src&rpmmod=nodejs:22

    Red Hat · CVE-2026-69184 · Updated 2026-10-23T10:42:45+00:00
  • nodejs-packaging-bundler (nodejs:22) as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 · known not affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    Reason: vulnerable code not present

    pkg:rpm/redhat/nodejs-packaging-bundler?rpmmod=nodejs:22

    Red Hat · CVE-2026-69184 · Updated 2026-10-23T10:42:45+00:00
  • nodejs-packaging.src (nodejs:24) as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 · known not affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    Reason: vulnerable code not present

    pkg:rpm/redhat/nodejs-packaging?arch=src&rpmmod=nodejs:24

    Red Hat · CVE-2026-69184 · Updated 2026-10-23T10:42:45+00:00
  • nodejs.src (nodejs:22) as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 · known not affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    Reason: vulnerable code not present

    pkg:rpm/redhat/nodejs?arch=src&rpmmod=nodejs:22

    Red Hat · CVE-2026-69184 · Updated 2026-10-23T10:42:45+00:00
  • nodejs (nodejs:24) as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 · known not affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    Reason: vulnerable code not present

    pkg:rpm/redhat/nodejs?rpmmod=nodejs:24

    Red Hat · CVE-2026-69184 · Updated 2026-10-23T10:42:45+00:00
  • v8-12.4-devel (nodejs:24) as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 · known not affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    Reason: vulnerable code not present

    pkg:rpm/redhat/v8-12.4-devel?rpmmod=nodejs:24

    Red Hat · CVE-2026-69184 · Updated 2026-10-23T10:42:45+00:00
  • c-ares as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 · known not affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    Reason: vulnerable code not present

    pkg:rpm/redhat/c-ares

    Red Hat · CVE-2026-69184 · Updated 2026-10-23T10:42:45+00:00
  • nodejs-docs (nodejs:22) as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 · known not affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    Reason: vulnerable code not present

    pkg:rpm/redhat/nodejs-docs?rpmmod=nodejs:22

    Red Hat · CVE-2026-69184 · Updated 2026-10-23T10:42:45+00:00
  • nodejs-full-i18n (nodejs:24) as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 · known not affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    Reason: vulnerable code not present

    pkg:rpm/redhat/nodejs-full-i18n?rpmmod=nodejs:24

    Red Hat · CVE-2026-69184 · Updated 2026-10-23T10:42:45+00:00
  • nodejs-libs (nodejs:24) as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 · known not affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    Reason: vulnerable code not present

    pkg:rpm/redhat/nodejs-libs?rpmmod=nodejs:24

    Red Hat · CVE-2026-69184 · Updated 2026-10-23T10:42:45+00:00
  • nodejs.src (nodejs:24) as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 · known not affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    Reason: vulnerable code not present

    pkg:rpm/redhat/nodejs?arch=src&rpmmod=nodejs:24

    Red Hat · CVE-2026-69184 · Updated 2026-10-23T10:42:45+00:00
  • nodejs (nodejs:26) as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 · known not affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    Reason: vulnerable code not present

    pkg:rpm/redhat/nodejs?rpmmod=nodejs:26

    Red Hat · CVE-2026-69184 · Updated 2026-10-23T10:42:45+00:00
  • npm (nodejs:26) as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 · known not affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    Reason: vulnerable code not present

    pkg:rpm/redhat/npm?rpmmod=nodejs:26

    Red Hat · CVE-2026-69184 · Updated 2026-10-23T10:42:45+00:00
  • istio-proxy-selinux as a component of OpenShift Service Mesh 3 · under investigation

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/istio-proxy-selinux

    Red Hat · CVE-2026-69184 · Updated 2026-10-23T10:42:45+00:00
  • istio-proxy.src as a component of OpenShift Service Mesh 3 · under investigation

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/istio-proxy?arch=src

    Red Hat · CVE-2026-69184 · Updated 2026-10-23T10:42:45+00:00

All CVSS metrics

  • HIGH 7.5 v3.1 · CNA Primary
    CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
  • HIGH 7.5 v3.1 · NVD Secondary
    CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

References

Advisories

Technical & other

Sources: NVD · CVE.org · EPSS