CVE-2020-10030
An issue has been found in PowerDNS Recursor 4.1.0 up to and including 4.3.0. It allows an...
CVE-2020-10030 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 8.8) in Powerdns Recursor, published May 19, 2020. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 24.5%, the 97th percentile. Fixed in pdns-recursor 4.1.16-r0.
An issue has been found in PowerDNS Recursor 4.1.0 up to and including 4.3.0. It allows an attacker (with enough privileges to change the system's hostname) to cause disclosure of uninitialized memory content via a stack-based out-of-bounds read. It only occurs on systems where gethostname() does not have '\0' termination of the returned string if the hostname is larger than the supplied buffer. (Linux systems are not affected because the buffer is always large enough. OpenBSD systems are not affected because the returned hostname always has '\0' termination.) Under some conditions, this issue can lead to the writing of one '\0' byte out-of-bounds on the stack, causing a denial of service or possibly arbitrary code execution.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- Low
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
NVD Score used
8.8
An issue has been found in PowerDNS Recursor 4.1.0 up to and including 4.3.0. It allows an attacker (with enough privileges to change the system's hostname) to cause disclosure of uninitialized memory content via a stack-based out-of-bounds read. It only occurs on systems where gethostname() does not have '\0' termination of the returned string if the hostname is larger than the supplied buffer. (Linux systems are not affected because the buffer is always large enough. OpenBSD systems are not affected because the returned hostname always has '\0' termination.) Under some conditions, this issue can lead to the writing of one '\0' byte out-of-bounds on the stack, causing a denial of service or possibly arbitrary code execution.
- Record
CVE-2020-10030- CVSS 3.1
- 8.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - CVSS 2.0
- 6.5 Medium
AV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:P - Weakness
- CWE-125
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
CVE List No score
An issue has been found in PowerDNS Recursor 4.1.0 up to and including 4.3.0. It allows an attacker (with enough privileges to change the system's hostname) to cause disclosure of uninitialized memory content via a stack-based out-of-bounds read. It only occurs on systems where gethostname() does not have '\0' termination of the returned string if the hostname is larger than the supplied buffer. (Linux systems are not affected because the buffer is always large enough. OpenBSD systems are not affected because the returned hostname always has '\0' termination.) Under some conditions, this issue can lead to the writing of one '\0' byte out-of-bounds on the stack, causing a denial of service or possibly arbitrary code execution.
- Record
CVE-2020-10030- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2020-2495 No score
An issue has been found in PowerDNS Recursor 4.1.0 up to and including 4.3.0. It allows an attacker (with enough privileges to change the system's hostname) to cause disclosure of uninitialized memory content via a stack-based out-of-bounds read. It only occurs on systems where gethostname() does not have '\0' termination of the returned string if the hostname is larger than the supplied buffer. (Linux systems are not affected because the buffer is always large enough. OpenBSD systems are not affected because the returned hostname always has '\0' termination.) Under some conditions, this issue can lead to the writing of one '\0' byte out-of-bounds on the stack, causing a denial of service or possibly arbitrary code execution.
- Record
EUVD-2020-2495- Updated
- 2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-v7fw-2gqv-66rx No score
An issue has been found in PowerDNS Recursor 4.1.0 up to and including 4.3.0. It allows an...
An issue has been found in PowerDNS Recursor 4.1.0 up to and including 4.3.0. It allows an attacker (with enough privileges to change the system's hostname) to cause disclosure of uninitialized memory content via a stack-based out-of-bounds read. It only occurs on systems where gethostname() does not have '\0' termination of the returned string if the hostname is larger than the supplied buffer. (Linux systems are not affected because the buffer is always large enough. OpenBSD systems are not affected because the returned hostname always has '\0' termination.) Under some conditions, this issue can lead to the writing of one '\0' byte out-of-bounds on the stack, causing a denial of service or possibly arbitrary code execution.
- Record
GHSA-v7fw-2gqv-66rx- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVALPINE-CVE-2020-10030
8.8
An issue has been found in PowerDNS Recursor 4.1.0 up to and including 4.3.0. It allows an attacker (with enough privileges to change the system's hostname) to cause disclosure of uninitialized memory content via a stack-based out-of-bounds read. It only occurs on systems where gethostname() does not have '\0' termination of the returned string if the hostname is larger than the supplied buffer. (Linux systems are not affected because the buffer is always large enough. OpenBSD systems are not affected because the returned hostname always has '\0' termination.) Under some conditions, this issue can lead to the writing of one '\0' byte out-of-bounds on the stack, causing a denial of service or possibly arbitrary code execution.
- Record
ALPINE-CVE-2020-10030- CVSS 3.1
- 8.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-03
OSV
8.8
An issue has been found in PowerDNS Recursor 4.1.0 up to and including 4.3.0. It allows an attacker (with enough privileges to change the system's hostname) to cause disclosure of uninitialized memory content via a stack-based out-of-bounds read. It only occurs on systems where gethostname() does not have '\0' termination of the returned string if the hostname is larger than the supplied buffer. (Linux systems are not affected because the buffer is always large enough. OpenBSD systems are not affected because the returned hostname always has '\0' termination.) Under some conditions, this issue can lead to the writing of one '\0' byte out-of-bounds on the stack, causing a denial of service or possibly arbitrary code execution.
- Record
CVE-2020-10030- CVSS 3.1
- 8.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
Show 4 moreShow less
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2020-10030
8.8
An issue has been found in PowerDNS Recursor 4.1.0 up to and including 4.3.0. It allows an attacker (with enough privileges to change the system's hostname) to cause disclosure of uninitialized memory content via a stack-based out-of-bounds read. It only occurs on systems where gethostname() does not have '\0' termination of the returned string if the hostname is larger than the supplied buffer. (Linux systems are not affected because the buffer is always large enough. OpenBSD systems are not affected because the returned hostname always has '\0' termination.) Under some conditions, this issue can lead to the writing of one '\0' byte out-of-bounds on the stack, causing a denial of service or possibly arbitrary code execution.
- Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2020-10030- CVSS 3.1
- 8.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2020-10030
8.8
An issue has been found in PowerDNS Recursor 4.1.0 up to and including 4.3.0. It allows an attacker (with enough privileges to change the system's hostname) to cause disclosure of uninitialized memory content via a stack-based out-of-bounds read. It only occurs on systems where gethostname() does not have '\0' termination of the returned string if the hostname is larger than the supplied buffer. (Linux systems are not affected because the buffer is always large enough. OpenBSD systems are not affected because the returned hostname always has '\0' termination.) Under some conditions, this issue can lead to the writing of one '\0' byte out-of-bounds on the stack, causing a denial of service or possibly arbitrary code execution.
- Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2020-10030- CVSS 3.1
- 8.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2020:0698-1 No score
Security update for pdns-recursor
This update for pdns-recursor fixes the following issues:
- update to 4.1.16
- fixes an issue where records in the answer section of a NXDOMAIN response lacking an SOA were not properly validated (CVE-2020-12244, boo#1171553)
- fixes an issue where invalid hostname on the server can result in disclosure of invalid memory (CVE-2020-10030, boo#1171553)
- fixes an issue in the DNS protocol has been found that allows malicious parties to use recursive DNS services to attack third party authoritative name servers (CVE-2020-10995, boo#1171553)
For details see https://doc.powerdns.com/recursor/changelog/4.1.html#change-4.1.16
- Record
openSUSE-SU-2020:0698-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2024:11157-1 No score
pdns-recursor-4.5.5-1.3 on GA media
These are all security issues fixed in the pdns-recursor-4.5.5-1.3 package on the GA media of openSUSE Tumbleweed.
- Record
openSUSE-SU-2024:11157-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
pdns-recursorAlpine:v3.10 |
before 4.1.16-r0 | 4.1.16-r0 |
pdns-recursorAlpine:v3.9 |
before 4.1.16-r0 | 4.1.16-r0 |
pdns-recursorDebian:12 |
before 4.3.1-1 | 4.3.1-1 |
pdns-recursorDebian:13 |
before 4.3.1-1 | 4.3.1-1 |
pdns-recursorDebian:14 |
before 4.3.1-1 | 4.3.1-1 |
pdns-recursorUbuntu:Pro:16.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 3.7.3-14.0.0~alpha1-14.0.0~alpha1-24.0.0~alpha2-24.0.0~alpha2-2ubuntu0.14.0.0~alpha2-2ubuntu0.1+esm1 |
None known |
pdns-recursorUbuntu:Pro:18.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 4.0.6-14.0.6-1build14.0.7-14.1.1-14.1.1-1build14.1.1-24.1.1-2ubuntu0.1~esm1 |
None known |
pdns-recursorUbuntu:Pro:20.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 4.2.0-64.2.1-14.2.1-1build14.2.1-1build24.2.1-1ubuntu0.1~esm1 |
None known |
pdns-recursorSUSE:Package Hub 12 SP1 |
before 4.1.12-bp151.4.3.1 | 4.1.12-bp151.4.3.1 |
pdns-recursorSUSE:Package Hub 15 SP1 |
before 4.1.12-bp151.4.3.1 | 4.1.12-bp151.4.3.1 |
pdns-recursoropenSUSE:Leap 15.1 |
before 4.1.12-bp151.4.3.1 | 4.1.12-bp151.4.3.1 |
pdns-recursoropenSUSE:Tumbleweed |
before 4.5.5-1.3 | 4.5.5-1.3 |
History
| When | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-11-03 | affected, aliases, references | OSV |
| 2026-11-03 | aliases | EUVD |
| 2026-11-02 | created | CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
References
doc.powerdns.com/recursor/security-advisories/powerdns-advisory-2020-03.html
lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-05/msg00052.html
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/PS4ZN5XGENYNFKX7QIIOUCQQHXE37GJF
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/NMP72NJGKBWR5WEBXAWX5KSLQUDFTG6S
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-10030
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/[email protected]/message/NMP72NJGKBWR5WEBXAWX5KSLQUDFTG6S
Show 27 moreShow less
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/[email protected]/message/PS4ZN5XGENYNFKX7QIIOUCQQHXE37GJF
github.com/advisories/GHSA-v7fw-2gqv-66rx
security.alpinelinux.org/vuln/CVE-2020-10030
security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2020-10030
ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2020-10030
openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2020/05/19/3
cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-10030
lists.opensuse.org/archives/list/[email protected]/thread/LEZPG4GM5KFH6L7EPATOSNLDHKRJP667
bugzilla.suse.com/1171553
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2020-10030
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2020-10995
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2020-12244
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2016-2120
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2016-7068
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2017-15090
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2017-15092
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2017-15093
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2017-15094
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2018-1000003
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2018-10851
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2018-14626
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2018-14644
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2018-16855
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2019-3806
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2019-3807
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2020-14196
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2020-25829