Description
An issue has been found in PowerDNS Recursor before 4.1.18, 4.2.x before 4.2.5, and 4.3.x before 4.3.5. A remote attacker can cause the cached records for a given name to be updated to the Bogus DNSSEC validation state, instead of their actual DNSSEC Secure state, via a DNS ANY query. This results in a denial of service for installation that always validate (dnssec=validate), and for clients requesting validation when on-demand validation is enabled (dnssec=process).
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 | pdns-recursor | 4.3.5-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | pdns-recursor | 4.3.5-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | pdns-recursor | 4.3.5-1 | — |
| Debian 10 | pdns-recursor | 4.1.11-1+deb10u2 | DLA-3855-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | pdns-recursor | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTS | pdns-recursor | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS | pdns-recursor | No fix yet | — |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUSE Package Hub 15 SP2 | pdns-recursor | 4.3.5-bp152.2.12.1 | openSUSE-SU-2020:1687-1 |
| SUSE Package Hub 15 SP1 | pdns-recursor | 4.3.5-bp152.2.12.1 | openSUSE-SU-2020:1687-1 |
| SUSE Package Hub 12 SP1 | pdns-recursor | 4.3.5-bp152.2.12.1 | openSUSE-SU-2020:1687-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | pdns-recursor | 4.5.5-1.3 | openSUSE-SU-2024:11157-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.2 | pdns-recursor | 4.3.5-bp152.2.12.1 | openSUSE-SU-2020:1687-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.1 | pdns-recursor | 4.3.5-bp152.2.12.1 | openSUSE-SU-2020:1687-1 |
Alpine
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.24 | pdns-recursor | 4.3.5-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.23 | pdns-recursor | 4.3.5-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.22 | pdns-recursor | 4.3.5-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.21 | pdns-recursor | 4.3.5-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.20 | pdns-recursor | 4.3.5-r0 | — |
Show 8 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.19 | pdns-recursor | 4.3.5-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.18 | pdns-recursor | 4.3.5-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.17 | pdns-recursor | 4.3.5-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.16 | pdns-recursor | 4.3.5-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.15 | pdns-recursor | 4.3.5-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.14 | pdns-recursor | 4.3.5-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.13 | pdns-recursor | 4.3.5-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.12 | pdns-recursor | 4.3.5-r0 | — |
Advisories 4
- DLA-3855-1 pdns-recursor - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2020:1687-1 Security update for pdns-recursor SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:11157-1 pdns-recursor-4.5.5-1.3 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- WID-SEC-2024-1478 PowerDNS: Schwachstelle ermöglicht Denial of Service BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Jun 30, 2024
References
- https://docs.powerdns.com/recursor/security-advisories/powerdns-advisory-2020-07.html
- openSUSE-SU-2020:1687 vendor-advisory
- GLSA-202012-19 vendor-advisory