CVE-2022-30699

CVE-2022-30699: Novel "ghost domain names" attack by updating almost expired delegation information

Vendor Nlnet Labs
Product Unbound
Published August 1, 2022
Last update September 16, 2024

CVSS base score

What the vulnerability does

01Description

NLnet Labs Unbound, up to and including version 1.16.1, is vulnerable to a novel type of the "ghost domain names" attack. The vulnerability works by targeting an Unbound instance. Unbound is queried for a rogue domain name when the cached delegation information is about to expire. The rogue nameserver delays the response so that the cached delegation information is expired. Upon receiving the delayed answer containing the delegation information, Unbound overwrites the now expired entries. This action can be repeated when the delegation information is about to expire making the rogue delegation information ever-updating. From version 1.16.2 on, Unbound stores the start time for a query and uses that to decide if the cached delegation information can be overwritten.

Key dates

02Disclosure timeline

August 1, 2022 CVE published
September 16, 2024 Record updated