CVE catalog

CVE-2026-50251

Severity: Medium · CVSS 5.9CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Published: Jul 22, 2026, 1:08:43 PM UTC
Source: [NVD] · [CVE record]
EPSS: 0.25% · Oct 25, 2026

In NLnet Labs Unbound up to and including version 1.25.1, when 'unwanted-reply-threshold' is enabled (set to any value greater than zero), glue records of 0.0.0.0/::0 can short-circuit Unbound, on systems that can direct such traffic, by issuing DNS queries and receiving seemingly unwanted replies since the remote IP does not match the original source IP of 0.0.0.0/::0. This behavior keeps on looping for the glue records and pushing the counter to the configured 'unwanted-reply-threshold' that triggers a defensive cache clear. A malicious actor who controls a delegation that returns in-bailiwick glue of 0.0.0.0/::0 can drive the counter to the limit of 'unwanted-reply-threshold' to the threshold and trigger a cache clean of the message and rrset caches; at will, indefinitely, without sending a single spoofed packet. The iterator uses the 0.0.0.0/::0 glue, and a system that can route this (e.g., Linux kernel routes the datagram over loopback), Unbound's own listener answers from 127.0.0.1. Because of the mismatch of 0.0.0.0 and 127.0.0.1, in this example, Unbound accounts the reply as an unwanted (probably spoofed) answer. The counter resets to zero on every cache flush, so the attack loops forever.

Vulnerable and fixed packages

Distribution-reported package versions and fixes. These do not depend on matching against the OpenFactory package catalog.

Distribution	Package	Release	Version	Status
Debian	unbound	sid	`1.26.2-1`	fixed
Debian	unbound	forky	`1.26.2-1`	fixed
Debian	unbound	trixie	`1.22.0-2+deb13u3`	vulnerable
Debian	unbound	trixie-security	`1.26.2-0+deb13u1`	fixed
Debian	unbound	bookworm	`1.17.1-2+deb12u4`	vulnerable
Debian	unbound	bookworm-security	`1.17.1-2+deb12u3`	vulnerable
Alpine	unbound	3.22	`1.25.2-r0`	fixed
Alpine	unbound	3.23	`1.25.2-r0`	fixed
Alpine	unbound	3.24	`1.25.2-r0`	fixed
Ubuntu	unbound	pro	`1.9.0-2ubuntu1`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	pro	`1.9.0-2ubuntu2`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	pro	`1.9.4-2`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	pro	`1.9.4-2ubuntu1`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	pro	`1.9.4-2ubuntu1.1`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	pro	`1.9.4-2ubuntu1.2`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	pro	`1.9.4-2ubuntu1.3`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	pro	`1.9.4-2ubuntu1.4`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	pro	`1.9.4-2ubuntu1.5`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	pro	`1.9.4-2ubuntu1.6`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	pro	`1.9.4-2ubuntu1.8`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	pro	`1.9.4-2ubuntu1.9`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	pro	`1.9.4-2ubuntu1.11`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	pro	`1.9.4-2ubuntu1.11+esm1`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	pro	`1.9.4-2ubuntu1.11+esm2`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	pro	`1.9.4-2ubuntu1.11+esm3`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	22.04	`1.13.1-1ubuntu1`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	22.04	`1.13.1-1ubuntu3`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	22.04	`1.13.1-1ubuntu5`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	22.04	`1.13.1-1ubuntu5.1`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	22.04	`1.13.1-1ubuntu5.2`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	22.04	`1.13.1-1ubuntu5.3`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	22.04	`1.13.1-1ubuntu5.4`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	22.04	`1.13.1-1ubuntu5.5`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	22.04	`1.13.1-1ubuntu5.7`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	22.04	`1.13.1-1ubuntu5.8`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	22.04	`1.13.1-1ubuntu5.10`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	22.04	`1.13.1-1ubuntu5.11`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	22.04	`1.13.1-1ubuntu5.12`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	22.04	`1.13.1-1ubuntu5.13`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	22.04	`1.13.1-1ubuntu5.14`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	22.04	`1.13.1-1ubuntu5.15`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	22.04	`1.13.1-1ubuntu5.16`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	22.04	`1.13.1-1ubuntu5.17`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	24.04	`1.17.1-2`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	24.04	`1.18.0-2ubuntu1`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	24.04	`1.18.0-2ubuntu2`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	24.04	`1.19.1-1ubuntu1`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	24.04	`1.19.2-1ubuntu1`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	24.04	`1.19.2-1ubuntu3`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	24.04	`1.19.2-1ubuntu3.1`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	24.04	`1.19.2-1ubuntu3.2`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	24.04	`1.19.2-1ubuntu3.3`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	24.04	`1.19.2-1ubuntu3.4`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	24.04	`1.19.2-1ubuntu3.5`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	24.04	`1.19.2-1ubuntu3.6`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	24.04	`1.19.2-1ubuntu3.7`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	24.04	`1.19.2-1ubuntu3.8`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	24.04	`1.19.2-1ubuntu3.9`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	24.04	`1.19.2-1ubuntu3.10`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	24.04	`1.19.2-1ubuntu3.12`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	26.10	`1.24.2-1ubuntu2`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	26.10	`1.25.1-1ubuntu1`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	26.10	`1.25.1-1ubuntu3`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	26.04	`1.22.0-2ubuntu2`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	26.04	`1.22.0-2ubuntu4`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	26.04	`1.24.2-1ubuntu1`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	26.04	`1.24.2-1ubuntu2`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	26.04	`1.24.2-1ubuntu2.1`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	26.04	`1.24.2-1ubuntu2.2`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	26.04	`1.24.2-1ubuntu2.3`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	unbound	26.04	`1.24.2-1ubuntu2.4`	vulnerable
Cpe	unbound	Not reported	`1.25.2`	fixed

Fixed-version evidence

Distribution	Package	Type	Release	Fixed version	Urgency	Origin	Bugs
Debian	unbound	source	sid	`1.25.2-1`	not yet assigned	Not reported	Not reported
Debian	unbound	source	forky	`1.25.2-1`	not yet assigned	Not reported	Not reported
Debian	unbound	source	trixie	`1.26.1-0+deb13u1`	not yet assigned	Not reported	Not reported
Debian	unbound	source	bookworm	`(unfixed)`	not yet assigned	Not reported	Not reported
Alpine	unbound	apk	3.22	`1.25.2-r0`	Not reported	ALPINE-CVE-2026-50251	Not reported
Alpine	unbound	apk	3.23	`1.25.2-r0`	Not reported	ALPINE-CVE-2026-50251	Not reported
Alpine	unbound	apk	3.24	`1.25.2-r0`	Not reported	ALPINE-CVE-2026-50251	Not reported
Cpe	unbound	cpe	Not reported	`1.25.2`	Not reported	NVD-CVE-2026-50251	Not reported

OpenFactory catalog packages

[Debian 12 (Bookworm)]

[libunbound8]Affected
Source package: [unbound]
Details (4)
- 1.17.1-2+deb12u4 · amd64 · bookworm
  Affected
  nvd · unbound · debian · bookworm; nvd · unbound · debian · 12
- 1.17.1-2+deb12u4 · arm64 · bookworm
  Affected
  nvd · unbound · debian · bookworm; nvd · unbound · debian · 12
- 1.17.1-2+deb12u3 · amd64 · bookworm-security
  Affected
  nvd · unbound · debian · bookworm; nvd · unbound · debian · 12
- 1.17.1-2+deb12u3 · arm64 · bookworm-security
  Affected
  nvd · unbound · debian · bookworm; nvd · unbound · debian · 12
[libunbound-dev]Affected
Source package: [unbound]
Details (4)
- 1.17.1-2+deb12u4 · amd64 · bookworm
  Affected
  nvd · unbound · debian · bookworm; nvd · unbound · debian · 12
- 1.17.1-2+deb12u4 · arm64 · bookworm
  Affected
  nvd · unbound · debian · bookworm; nvd · unbound · debian · 12
- 1.17.1-2+deb12u3 · amd64 · bookworm-security
  Affected
  nvd · unbound · debian · bookworm; nvd · unbound · debian · 12
- 1.17.1-2+deb12u3 · arm64 · bookworm-security
  Affected
  nvd · unbound · debian · bookworm; nvd · unbound · debian · 12
[python3-unbound]Affected
Source package: [unbound]
Details (4)
- 1.17.1-2+deb12u4 · amd64 · bookworm
  Affected
  nvd · unbound · debian · bookworm; nvd · unbound · debian · 12
- 1.17.1-2+deb12u4 · arm64 · bookworm
  Affected
  nvd · unbound · debian · bookworm; nvd · unbound · debian · 12
- 1.17.1-2+deb12u3 · amd64 · bookworm-security
  Affected
  nvd · unbound · debian · bookworm; nvd · unbound · debian · 12
- 1.17.1-2+deb12u3 · arm64 · bookworm-security
  Affected
  nvd · unbound · debian · bookworm; nvd · unbound · debian · 12
[unbound]Affected
Details (4)
- 1.17.1-2+deb12u4 · amd64 · bookworm
  Affected
  nvd · unbound · debian · bookworm; nvd · unbound · debian · 12
- 1.17.1-2+deb12u4 · arm64 · bookworm
  Affected
  nvd · unbound · debian · bookworm; nvd · unbound · debian · 12
- 1.17.1-2+deb12u3 · amd64 · bookworm-security
  Affected
  nvd · unbound · debian · bookworm; nvd · unbound · debian · 12
- 1.17.1-2+deb12u3 · arm64 · bookworm-security
  Affected
  nvd · unbound · debian · bookworm; nvd · unbound · debian · 12
[unbound-anchor]Affected
Source package: [unbound]
Details (4)
- 1.17.1-2+deb12u4 · amd64 · bookworm
  Affected
  nvd · unbound · debian · bookworm; nvd · unbound · debian · 12
- 1.17.1-2+deb12u4 · arm64 · bookworm
  Affected
  nvd · unbound · debian · bookworm; nvd · unbound · debian · 12
- 1.17.1-2+deb12u3 · amd64 · bookworm-security
  Affected
  nvd · unbound · debian · bookworm; nvd · unbound · debian · 12
- 1.17.1-2+deb12u3 · arm64 · bookworm-security
  Affected
  nvd · unbound · debian · bookworm; nvd · unbound · debian · 12
[unbound-host]Affected
Source package: [unbound]
Details (4)
- 1.17.1-2+deb12u4 · amd64 · bookworm
  Affected
  nvd · unbound · debian · bookworm; nvd · unbound · debian · 12
- 1.17.1-2+deb12u4 · arm64 · bookworm
  Affected
  nvd · unbound · debian · bookworm; nvd · unbound · debian · 12
- 1.17.1-2+deb12u3 · amd64 · bookworm-security
  Affected
  nvd · unbound · debian · bookworm; nvd · unbound · debian · 12
- 1.17.1-2+deb12u3 · arm64 · bookworm-security
  Affected
  nvd · unbound · debian · bookworm; nvd · unbound · debian · 12

[Debian 13 (Trixie)]

[libunbound8]Affected
Source package: [unbound]
Details (6)
- 1.22.0-2+deb13u3 · amd64 · trixie
  Affected · Fixed: 1.26.1-0+deb13u1
  nvd · unbound · debian · 13
- 1.22.0-2+deb13u3 · arm64 · trixie
  Affected · Fixed: 1.26.1-0+deb13u1
  nvd · unbound · debian · 13
- 1.22.0-2+deb13u3 · amd64 · trixie-security · Historical version
  Affected · Fixed: 1.26.1-0+deb13u1
  nvd · unbound · debian · 13
- 1.22.0-2+deb13u3 · arm64 · trixie-security
  Affected · Fixed: 1.26.1-0+deb13u1
  nvd · unbound · debian · 13
- 1.26.1-0+deb13u1 · amd64 · trixie-security · Historical version
  Fixed · Fixed: 1.26.1-0+deb13u1
  nvd · unbound · debian · 13
- 1.26.2-0+deb13u1 · amd64 · trixie-security
  Fixed · Fixed: 1.26.1-0+deb13u1
  nvd · unbound · debian · 13
[libunbound-dev]Affected
Source package: [unbound]
Details (6)
- 1.22.0-2+deb13u3 · amd64 · trixie
  Affected · Fixed: 1.26.1-0+deb13u1
  nvd · unbound · debian · 13
- 1.22.0-2+deb13u3 · arm64 · trixie
  Affected · Fixed: 1.26.1-0+deb13u1
  nvd · unbound · debian · 13
- 1.22.0-2+deb13u3 · amd64 · trixie-security · Historical version
  Affected · Fixed: 1.26.1-0+deb13u1
  nvd · unbound · debian · 13
- 1.22.0-2+deb13u3 · arm64 · trixie-security
  Affected · Fixed: 1.26.1-0+deb13u1
  nvd · unbound · debian · 13
- 1.26.1-0+deb13u1 · amd64 · trixie-security · Historical version
  Fixed · Fixed: 1.26.1-0+deb13u1
  nvd · unbound · debian · 13
- 1.26.2-0+deb13u1 · amd64 · trixie-security
  Fixed · Fixed: 1.26.1-0+deb13u1
  nvd · unbound · debian · 13
[python3-unbound]Affected
Source package: [unbound]
Details (6)
- 1.22.0-2+deb13u3 · amd64 · trixie
  Affected · Fixed: 1.26.1-0+deb13u1
  nvd · unbound · debian · 13
- 1.22.0-2+deb13u3 · arm64 · trixie
  Affected · Fixed: 1.26.1-0+deb13u1
  nvd · unbound · debian · 13
- 1.22.0-2+deb13u3 · amd64 · trixie-security · Historical version
  Affected · Fixed: 1.26.1-0+deb13u1
  nvd · unbound · debian · 13
- 1.22.0-2+deb13u3 · arm64 · trixie-security
  Affected · Fixed: 1.26.1-0+deb13u1
  nvd · unbound · debian · 13
- 1.26.1-0+deb13u1 · amd64 · trixie-security · Historical version
  Fixed · Fixed: 1.26.1-0+deb13u1
  nvd · unbound · debian · 13
- 1.26.2-0+deb13u1 · amd64 · trixie-security
  Fixed · Fixed: 1.26.1-0+deb13u1
  nvd · unbound · debian · 13
[unbound]Affected
Details (6)
- 1.22.0-2+deb13u3 · amd64 · trixie
  Affected · Fixed: 1.26.1-0+deb13u1
  nvd · unbound · debian · 13
- 1.22.0-2+deb13u3 · arm64 · trixie
  Affected · Fixed: 1.26.1-0+deb13u1
  nvd · unbound · debian · 13
- 1.22.0-2+deb13u3 · amd64 · trixie-security · Historical version
  Affected · Fixed: 1.26.1-0+deb13u1
  nvd · unbound · debian · 13
- 1.22.0-2+deb13u3 · arm64 · trixie-security
  Affected · Fixed: 1.26.1-0+deb13u1
  nvd · unbound · debian · 13
- 1.26.1-0+deb13u1 · amd64 · trixie-security · Historical version
  Fixed · Fixed: 1.26.1-0+deb13u1
  nvd · unbound · debian · 13
- 1.26.2-0+deb13u1 · amd64 · trixie-security
  Fixed · Fixed: 1.26.1-0+deb13u1
  nvd · unbound · debian · 13
[unbound-anchor]Affected
Source package: [unbound]
Details (6)
- 1.22.0-2+deb13u3 · amd64 · trixie
  Affected · Fixed: 1.26.1-0+deb13u1
  nvd · unbound · debian · 13
- 1.22.0-2+deb13u3 · arm64 · trixie
  Affected · Fixed: 1.26.1-0+deb13u1
  nvd · unbound · debian · 13
- 1.22.0-2+deb13u3 · amd64 · trixie-security · Historical version
  Affected · Fixed: 1.26.1-0+deb13u1
  nvd · unbound · debian · 13
- 1.22.0-2+deb13u3 · arm64 · trixie-security
  Affected · Fixed: 1.26.1-0+deb13u1
  nvd · unbound · debian · 13
- 1.26.1-0+deb13u1 · amd64 · trixie-security · Historical version
  Fixed · Fixed: 1.26.1-0+deb13u1
  nvd · unbound · debian · 13
- 1.26.2-0+deb13u1 · amd64 · trixie-security
  Fixed · Fixed: 1.26.1-0+deb13u1
  nvd · unbound · debian · 13
[unbound-host]Affected
Source package: [unbound]
Details (6)
- 1.22.0-2+deb13u3 · amd64 · trixie
  Affected · Fixed: 1.26.1-0+deb13u1
  nvd · unbound · debian · 13
- 1.22.0-2+deb13u3 · arm64 · trixie
  Affected · Fixed: 1.26.1-0+deb13u1
  nvd · unbound · debian · 13
- 1.22.0-2+deb13u3 · amd64 · trixie-security · Historical version
  Affected · Fixed: 1.26.1-0+deb13u1
  nvd · unbound · debian · 13
- 1.22.0-2+deb13u3 · arm64 · trixie-security
  Affected · Fixed: 1.26.1-0+deb13u1
  nvd · unbound · debian · 13
- 1.26.1-0+deb13u1 · amd64 · trixie-security · Historical version
  Fixed · Fixed: 1.26.1-0+deb13u1
  nvd · unbound · debian · 13
- 1.26.2-0+deb13u1 · amd64 · trixie-security
  Fixed · Fixed: 1.26.1-0+deb13u1
  nvd · unbound · debian · 13

Observed: Oct 27, 2026, 7:12:15 AM UTC

References

[CERT-Bund public advisories] · [Debian Security Tracker] · [FIRST EPSS] · [National Vulnerability Database (NVD)] · [OSV Package Vulnerability Database] · [Red Hat security advisories and VEX] · [SUSE security advisories and VEX]