CVE-2018-16855 : What You Need to Know

PowerDNS Recursor before 4.1.8 is vulnerable to an out-of-bounds memory read when processing DNS queries, potentially leading to system crashes.

Understanding CVE-2018-16855

This CVE involves a security vulnerability in PowerDNS Recursor versions prior to 4.1.8, allowing remote attackers to trigger an out-of-bounds memory read.

What is CVE-2018-16855?

A flaw in PowerDNS Recursor versions before 4.1.8 enables remote attackers to exploit a memory read issue by sending malicious DNS queries.

The Impact of CVE-2018-16855

The vulnerability poses a high availability impact, potentially leading to system crashes due to out-of-bounds memory reads triggered by crafted DNS queries.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-16855

PowerDNS Recursor vulnerability details and affected systems.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in PowerDNS Recursor versions prior to 4.1.8 allows remote attackers to trigger out-of-bounds memory reads during hash computation for DNS query packet cache lookups.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: pdns-recursor
Vendor: [UNKNOWN]
Vulnerable Version: 4.1.8

Exploitation Mechanism

Attack Complexity: Low
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
Scope: Unchanged
Impact: High availability impact

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2018-16855 and preventing potential exploits.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update PowerDNS Recursor to version 4.1.8 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious DNS queries.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch software to address known vulnerabilities.
Implement network security measures to detect and block malicious traffic.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates provided by PowerDNS to fix the vulnerability and enhance system security.