CVE-2020-8621
In BIND 9.14.0 -> 9.16.5, 9.17.0 -> 9.17.3, If a server is configured with both QNAME minimization and 'forward first' then an attacker who can send queries to it may be able to trigger the condition that will cause the server to crash.
Does this matter?
High impact if exploited, but EPSS currently rates exploitation as unlikely (2.97%). Schedule it in the normal patch cycle and watch for a rise in EPSS or a public exploit.
Description
In BIND 9.14.0 -> 9.16.5, 9.17.0 -> 9.17.3, If a server is configured with both QNAME minimization and 'forward first' then an attacker who can send queries to it may be able to trigger the condition that will cause the server to crash. Servers that 'forward only' are not affected.
- CVSS 3.1
- 7.5 HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
- EPSS
- 2.97% probability · 87th percentile
- Public exploits
- None in Exploit-DB
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Weakness
- CWE-617
- Affected
- isc/bind · opensuse/leap · canonical/ubuntu linux · synology/dns server · netapp/steelstore cloud integrated storage
- Source
- security-officer@isc.org
EPSS 3.0% since 26 October 2026; no change recorded yet. Points are recorded when the score first appears and whenever it moves by a percentage point or more.
References
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-10/msg00041.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-10/msg00044.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
- https://kb.isc.org/docs/cve-2020-8621Vendor Advisory
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202008-19Third Party Advisory
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20200827-0003/Third Party Advisory
- https://usn.ubuntu.com/4468-1/Third Party Advisory
- https://www.synology.com/security/advisory/Synology_SA_20_19Third Party Advisory
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-10/msg00041.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-10/msg00044.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
- https://kb.isc.org/docs/cve-2020-8621Vendor Advisory
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202008-19Third Party Advisory
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20200827-0003/Third Party Advisory
- https://usn.ubuntu.com/4468-1/Third Party Advisory
- https://www.synology.com/security/advisory/Synology_SA_20_19Third Party Advisory
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.