CVE-2026-44687: Off-by-one error in 'harden-below-nxdomain' logic can shadow a stub/forward zone by a legitimate parent's NXDOMAIN
In NLnet Labs Unbound 1.13.2 up to and including 1.25.1, stub or forward zones where the name is below an intermediate labed below a DNSSEC signed zone could be shadowed by the intermediate label's secure NXDOMAIN answer from the parent. This is caused by an off-by-one error in 'harden-below-nxdomain' logic; enabled by default. It effectively bypasses the configuration and the configured stub/forward zone is never contacted. 'harden-below-nxdomain' does an upward DNS cache walk together with a delegation point guard that does not allow NXDOMAIN synthesis above stub/forward zones. The guard tests the domain name but before stripping a label. This results in an iteration where the domain name equals the configured stub/forward zone apex that passes the guard, strips one more label, and probes the cache at the apex's immediate public parent. If that parent has a cached DNSSEC-secure NXDOMAIN, which it will for any private namespace nested two or more labels under a signed public name, the walk returns it and the configured stub/forward upstream is never contacted. This can only be triggered by the query for the intermediate label (between the stub/forward apex and the DNSSEC parent zone).
Other sources
Off-by-one error in 'harden-below-nxdomain' logic can shadow a stub/forward zone by a legitimate parent's NXDOMAIN
— Microsoft
Affected Software
Remediation
Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.
- Upgrade
Upgrade to a fixed release to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 1.25.2-1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
NLnet Labs Unboundto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 1.25.2
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the severity of CVE-2026-44687?
The severity of CVE-2026-44687 is rated as low with a score of 3.7.
How do I fix CVE-2026-44687?
To fix CVE-2026-44687, update the NLnet Labs Unbound software to version 1.25.2 or later.
What type of error is present in CVE-2026-44687?
CVE-2026-44687 contains an off-by-one error in the 'harden-below-nxdomain' logic.
Which versions of NLnet Labs Unbound are affected by CVE-2026-44687?
NLnet Labs Unbound versions 1.13.2 through 1.25.1 are affected by CVE-2026-44687.
What consequence does CVE-2026-44687 have on DNS zones?
CVE-2026-44687 can cause stub or forward zones to be shadowed by a legitimate parent's NXDOMAIN response.