0-byte UDP payload DoS in c-ares
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Denial of service
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 22 fixed, 1 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-400.
Summary
c-ares is an asynchronous resolver library. c-ares is vulnerable to denial of service. If a target resolver sends a query, the attacker forges a malformed UDP packet with a length of 0 and returns them to the target resolver. The target resolver erroneously interprets the 0 length as a graceful shutdown of the connection. This issue has been patched in version 1.19.1.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- Yes
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| c-ares | c-ares | before 1.19.1 | 1.19.1 | Patch available | CNA |
- c-ares Vendorc-ares Affected before 1.19.1 Fixed in 1.19.1 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 5
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:c-ares_project:c-ares:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 1.19.1 | Vulnerable | C-ares Project |
| cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:37:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 37 | Vulnerable | Fedoraproject |
| cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:38:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 38 | Vulnerable | Fedoraproject |
| cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 10.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
| cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:11.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 11.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
- cpe:2.3:a:c-ares_project:c-ares:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 1.19.1 Vulnerable ·C-ares Project
- cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:37:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 37 Vulnerable ·Fedoraproject
- cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:38:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 38 Vulnerable ·Fedoraproject
- cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 10.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
- cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:11.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 11.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
Remediation
- Fix · CNA c-ares (c-ares) Fixed in 1.19.1
Red Hat 15 advisories
- RHSA-2023:4035 Released 2023-07-12 · Red Hat rating Importantnodejs:18 security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8) nodejs-1:18.14.2-3.module+el8.8.0+19021+4b8b11cc.aarch64::nodejs:18, nodejs-1:18.14.2-3.module+el8.8.0+19021+4b8b11cc.ppc64le::nodejs:18, nodejs-1:18.14.2-3.module+el8.8.0+19021+4b8b11cc.s390x::nodejs:18 +20
- RHSA-2023:4034 Released 2023-07-12 · Red Hat rating Importantnodejs:16 security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8) nodejs-1:16.19.1-2.module+el8.8.0+19038+6f60344f.aarch64::nodejs:16, nodejs-1:16.19.1-2.module+el8.8.0+19038+6f60344f.ppc64le::nodejs:16, nodejs-1:16.19.1-2.module+el8.8.0+19038+6f60344f.s390x::nodejs:16 +19
- RHSA-2023:4033 Released 2023-07-12 · Red Hat rating Importantnodejs:16 security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.8.6) nodejs-1:16.19.1-2.module+el8.6.0+19139+7f27a8ff.aarch64::nodejs:16, nodejs-1:16.19.1-2.module+el8.6.0+19139+7f27a8ff.ppc64le::nodejs:16, nodejs-1:16.19.1-2.module+el8.6.0+19139+7f27a8ff.s390x::nodejs:16 +19
Show 12 more Red Hat advisories
- RHSA-2023:4039 Released 2023-07-12 · Red Hat rating Importantrh-nodejs14-nodejs security update
- Red Hat Software Collections for RHEL Workstation(v. 7) rh-nodejs14-nodejs-14.21.3-4.el7, rh-nodejs14-nodejs-devel-14.21.3-4.el7, rh-nodejs14-nodejs-docs-14.21.3-4.el7 +2
- Red Hat Software Collections for RHEL(v. 7) rh-nodejs14-nodejs-14.21.3-4.el7, rh-nodejs14-nodejs-devel-14.21.3-4.el7, rh-nodejs14-nodejs-docs-14.21.3-4.el7 +2
- RHSA-2023:4036 Released 2023-07-12 · Red Hat rating Importantnodejs security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.9.0) nodejs-1:16.18.1-4.el9_0, nodejs-docs-1:16.18.1-4.el9_0, nodejs-full-i18n-1:16.18.1-4.el9_0 +2
- RHSA-2023:3741 Released 2023-06-21 · Red Hat rating Importantc-ares security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) c-ares-1.10.0-3.el7_9.1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) c-ares-devel-1.10.0-3.el7_9.1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7) c-ares-devel-1.10.0-3.el7_9.1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) c-ares-1.10.0-3.el7_9.1, c-ares-1.10.0-3.el7_9.1.ppc, c-ares-devel-1.10.0-3.el7_9.1 +1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) c-ares-1.10.0-3.el7_9.1, c-ares-devel-1.10.0-3.el7_9.1
- RHSA-2023:3677 Released 2023-06-20 · Red Hat rating Importantc-ares security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS AUS (v.8.4) c-ares-1.13.0-5.el8_4.2, c-ares-devel-1.13.0-5.el8_4.2
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v.8.4) c-ares-1.13.0-5.el8_4.2, c-ares-devel-1.13.0-5.el8_4.2
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS TUS (v.8.4) c-ares-1.13.0-5.el8_4.2, c-ares-devel-1.13.0-5.el8_4.2
- RHSA-2023:3665 Released 2023-06-19 · Red Hat rating Importantc-ares security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v. 8.1) c-ares-1.13.0-5.el8_1.1, c-ares-devel-1.13.0-5.el8_1.1
- RHSA-2023:3662 Released 2023-06-19 · Red Hat rating Importantc-ares security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v.8.6) c-ares-1.13.0-6.el8_6.1, c-ares-devel-1.13.0-6.el8_6.1
- RHSA-2023:3660 Released 2023-06-19 · Red Hat rating Importantc-ares security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS AUS (v. 8.2) c-ares-1.13.0-5.el8_2.1, c-ares-devel-1.13.0-5.el8_2.1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v. 8.2) c-ares-1.13.0-5.el8_2.1, c-ares-devel-1.13.0-5.el8_2.1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS TUS (v. 8.2) c-ares-1.13.0-5.el8_2.1, c-ares-devel-1.13.0-5.el8_2.1
- RHSA-2023:3586 Released 2023-06-14 · Red Hat rating Importantnodejs security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) nodejs-1:16.19.1-2.el9_2, nodejs-docs-1:16.19.1-2.el9_2, nodejs-full-i18n-1:16.19.1-2.el9_2 +2
- RHSA-2023:3584 Released 2023-06-14 · Red Hat rating Importantc-ares security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) c-ares-1.13.0-6.el8_8.2, c-ares-devel-1.13.0-6.el8_8.2
- RHSA-2023:3583 Released 2023-06-14 · Red Hat rating Importantc-ares security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.9.0) c-ares-devel-1.17.1-5.el9_0.1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v.9.0) c-ares-1.17.1-5.el9_0.1
- RHSA-2023:3577 Released 2023-06-14 · Red Hat rating Importantnodejs:18 security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) nodejs-1:18.14.2-3.module+el9.2.0.z+18964+42696395.aarch64::nodejs:18, nodejs-1:18.14.2-3.module+el9.2.0.z+18964+42696395.ppc64le::nodejs:18, nodejs-1:18.14.2-3.module+el9.2.0.z+18964+42696395.s390x::nodejs:18 +20
- RHSA-2023:3559 Released 2023-06-13 · Red Hat rating Importantc-ares security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) c-ares-devel-1.17.1-5.el9_2.1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9) c-ares-1.17.1-5.el9_2.1
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Important. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2023:4034, RHSA-2023:4035 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2023:3559, RHSA-2023:3577, RHSA-2023:3586 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.8.6) | Fixed | RHSA-2023:4033 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.9.0) | Fixed | RHSA-2023:3583, RHSA-2023:4036 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2023:3584 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2023:3559 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS AUS (v. 8.2) | Fixed | RHSA-2023:3660 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS AUS (v.8.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2023:3677 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v. 8.1) | Fixed | RHSA-2023:3665 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v. 8.2) | Fixed | RHSA-2023:3660 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v.8.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2023:3677 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v.8.6) | Fixed | RHSA-2023:3662 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v.9.0) | Fixed | RHSA-2023:3583 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS TUS (v. 8.2) | Fixed | RHSA-2023:3660 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS TUS (v.8.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2023:3677 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2023:3741 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2023:3741 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2023:3741 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2023:3741 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2023:3741 |
| Red Hat Software Collections for RHEL Workstation(v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2023:4039 |
| Red Hat Software Collections for RHEL(v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2023:4039 |
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2023-32067
References
Advisory 5
- https://github.com/c-ares/c-ares/security/advisories/GHSA-9g78-jv2r-p7vc
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/[email protected]/message/B5Z5XFNXTNPTCBBVXFDNZQVLLIE6VRBY/
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/[email protected]/message/UBFWILTA33LOSV23P44FGTQQIDRJHIY7/
- https://www.debian.org/security/2023/dsa-5419
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202310-09
More c-ares vulnerabilities
- TI-2026-48538 c-ares: Memory-amplification denial of service via unvalidated DNS header record counts CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 5.3
- TI-2020-14305 Buffer overflow vulnerability in c-ares before 1_16_1 thru 1_17_0 via function… CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 5.9
- TI-2016-04481 Heap-based buffer overflow in the ares_create_query function in c-ares 1.x before 1.12.0… CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2026-26011 Double free in c-ares CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
- TI-2026-48536 c-ares: CPU-exhaustion denial of service via unbounded DNS name compression pointer chains CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
- TI-2017-14601 The c-ares function `ares_parse_naptr_reply()`, which is used for parsing NAPTR… CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
Sources
- CVE-2023-32067 · CVE Program
- CVE-2023-32067 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- CVE-2023-32067 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences