Vulnerability Description
A buffer overflow in dnsmasq’s extract_addresses() function allows an attacker to trigger a heap out-of-bounds read and crash by exploiting a malformed DNS response, enabling extract_name() to advance the pointer past the record’s end.
CVSS Score
HIGH
Related Weaknesses (CWE)
References
- https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/pull/519082
- https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/pull/519093
- https://github.com/pi-hole/FTL/releases/tag/v6.6.2
- https://lists.thekelleys.org.uk/pipermail/dnsmasq-discuss/2026q2/018471.html
- https://thekelleys.org.uk/dnsmasq/CVE/
- https://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/471747
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:19158
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-5172
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2458521
- https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-5172.json
FAQ
What is CVE-2026-5172?
CVE-2026-5172 is a vulnerability with a CVSS score of 7.3 (HIGH). A buffer overflow in dnsmasq’s extract_addresses() function allows an attacker to trigger a heap out-of-bounds read and crash by exploiting a malformed DNS response, enabling extract_name() to advance...
How severe is CVE-2026-5172?
CVE-2026-5172 has been rated HIGH with a CVSS base score of 7.3/10. Review the CVSS metrics above for detailed severity breakdown.
Is there a patch for CVE-2026-5172?
Check the references section above for vendor advisories and patch information. Review vendor security bulletins for remediation guidance.