CVE-2026-78227

MEDIUM CVSS 3.1: 6.5 EPSS 0.34%
Updated Sep 23, 2026
Nlnet Labs
Parameter Value
CVSS 6.5 (MEDIUM)
Affected Versions 1.22.0 — 1.26.1
Fixed In 1.26.1
Type CWE-416 (Use After Free)
Vendor Nlnet Labs
Public PoC No

NLnet Labs Unbound 1.22.0 up to and including 1.26.1, has a use-after-free vulnerability when compiled for DNS-over-QUIC support with '--with-libngtcp2'. Each DoQ stream owns an output buffer that holds the DNS response. ngtcp2's retransmission buffer keeps a shallow pointer into the output buffer for as long as a STREAM frame may be resent. On a client RESET_STREAM, the output buffer is freed but ngtcp2 still holds the matching retransmission entries.

The next PTO timeout makes ngtcp2 re-encode the STREAM frame and copy from the freed buffer. A malicious actor that can query Unbound over DoQ and that withholds ACKs, sends RESET_STREAM, and waits for PTO, reaches this use-after-free with no privilege. This leads to retransmissions against freed memory and eventually an abnormal server exit under a 20-query spray.

Attack Parameters

Attack Vector
Network
Can be exploited remotely
Attack Complexity
High
Difficult to exploit
Privileges Required
None
No privileges needed
User Interaction
None
No user interaction needed

Impact Assessment

Confidentiality
High
Complete data leak
Integrity
None
No data modification
Availability
Low
Partial disruption

CVSS Vector v3.1

Weakness Type (CWE)

Vulnerable Products 1

Configuration From (including) Up to (excluding)
Nlnetlabs Unbound
cpe:2.3:a:nlnetlabs:unbound:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
1.22.0 1.26.1