Description
Heap-based buffer overflow in the ares_create_query function in c-ares 1.x before 1.12.0 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds write) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a hostname with an escaped trailing dot.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | c-ares | 1.12.0-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | c-ares | 1.12.0-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | c-ares | 1.12.0-1 | — |
| Debian 8 | c-ares | 1.10.0-2+deb8u1 | DSA-3682-1 |
| Debian 7 | c-ares | 1.9.1-3+deb7u1 | DLA-648-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | c-ares | 1.10.0-3ubuntu0.1 | USN-3143-1 |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | c-ares | 1.10.0-2ubuntu0.1 | USN-3143-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 2 | rh-nodejs4-http-parser +1 | 2.7.0-2.el6 | RHSA-2017:0002 |
| RHEL 2 | rh-nodejs4-nodejs +2 | 4.6.2-4.el6 | RHSA-2017:0002 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 SP2 | libcares2 | 1.9.1-5.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:3286-1 |
| SLES 12 SP1 | libcares2 | 1.9.1-5.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:3286-1 |
| SLES 12 | nodejs4 | 4.6.1-11.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:2898-1 |
| SLES 11 SP4 | libcares2 | 1.7.4-7.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:3287-1 |
Show 3 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 12 SP2 | libcares2 | 1.9.1-5.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:3286-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP1 | libcares2 | 1.9.1-5.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:3286-1 |
| SLES for SAP 11 SP4 | libcares2 | 1.7.4-7.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:3287-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | c-ares | 1.12.0-1.1 | openSUSE-SU-2024:10147-1 |
Alpine
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.6 | c-ares | 1.12.0-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.6 | nodejs | 6.8.0-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.5 | c-ares | 1.12.0-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.4 | c-ares | 1.12.0-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.3 | c-ares | 1.12.0-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.2 | c-ares | 1.12.0-r0 | — |
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Third-party code, not reviewed by us. Public PoCs are sometimes fake or contain malware. Read the code first and run it only in an isolated lab, against systems you are authorised to test.
GitHub 3 repositories
-
pouriam23/final-CVE-2016-5180 ★ 0 · May 24, 2025
-
pouriam23/CVE-2016-5180 ★ 0 · May 23, 2025
-
pouriam23/CVE-2016-5180-docker- ★ 0 · May 23, 2025
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 10
- WID-SEC-2026-3114 Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server: Mehrere Schwachstellen BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Aug 31, 2026
- RHSA-2017:0002 Red Hat Security Advisory: rh-nodejs4-nodejs and rh-nodejs4-http-parser security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- USN-3143-1 c-ares vulnerability Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 22, 2026
- DLA-648-1 c-ares - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-3682-1 c-ares - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:2898-1 Security update for nodejs4 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10147-1 libcares-devel-1.12.0-1.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:3286-1 Security update for libcares2 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:3287-1 Security update for libcares2 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- WID-SEC-2023-1614 Tenable Security Nessus Network Monitor: Mehrere Schwachstellen BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Oct 25, 2023
References
- https://source.android.com/security/bulletin/2017-01-01.html
- 93243 vdb-entry
- USN-3143-1 vendor-advisory
- GLSA-201701-28 vendor-advisory
- DSA-3682 vendor-advisory
- https://c-ares.haxx.se/adv_20160929.html
- https://c-ares.haxx.se/CVE-2016-5180.patch
- https://googlechromereleases.blogspot.in/2016/09/stable-channel-updates-for-chrome-os.html
- RHSA-2017:0002 vendor-advisory