CVE-2020-8621: Attempting QNAME minimization after forwarding can lead to an assertion failure in resolver.c

Published Aug 21, 2020
·
Updated

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.

Affected Software

10 affected componentsFixes available
ISC BIND>=9.14.0<=9.16.5
ISC BIND>=9.17.0<=9.17.3
openSUSE Leap=15.1
openSUSE Leap=15.2
Canonical Ubuntu Linux=16.04
Canonical Ubuntu Linux=18.04
Canonical Ubuntu Linux=20.04
Synology DNS Server<2.2.2-5027
NetApp Steelstore Cloud Integrated Storage
debian/bind9
1:9.16.50-1~deb11u21:9.16.50-1~deb11u41:9.18.41-1~deb12u11:9.18.44-1~deb12u11:9.20.18-1~deb13u11:9.20.20-1

Remediation

Information

Upgrade to the patched release most closely related to your current version of BIND: BIND 9.16.6 BIND 9.17.4

Event History

Aug 21, 2020
CVE Published
via MITRE·08:50 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·08:50 PM
RemedyDescriptionSeverityWeakness
Jan 11, 2024
Data Sourced
via Launchpad·11:53 PM
Description
Feb 25, 2026
Data Sourced
via Ubuntu·12:54 AM
RemedyDescriptionSeverityAffected Software
Mar 15, 2026
Data Sourced
via Debian·01:11 AM
DescriptionAffected Software
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Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2020-8621?

The severity of CVE-2020-8621 is high with a severity value of 7.5.

2

Which versions of BIND are affected by CVE-2020-8621?

BIND versions 9.14.0 to 9.16.5 and 9.17.0 to 9.17.3 are affected by CVE-2020-8621.

3

How can an attacker exploit CVE-2020-8621?

An attacker can exploit CVE-2020-8621 by sending queries to a BIND server configured with both QNAME minimization and 'forward first', causing the server to crash.

4

Are servers configured with 'forward only' affected by CVE-2020-8621?

No, servers configured with 'forward only' are not affected by CVE-2020-8621.

5

How can I fix CVE-2020-8621?

To fix CVE-2020-8621, update your BIND server to a version that includes the fix for the vulnerability.

Contact

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