Description
Dnsmasq-utils 2.79-1 contains a buffer overflow vulnerability in the dhcp_release utility that allows attackers to cause a denial of service by supplying excessive input. Attackers can trigger a core dump and terminate the dhcp_release process by sending a crafted input string longer than 16 characters.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| dnsmasq | dnsmasq-utils | 2.79 | — |
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 | dnsmasq | 2.80-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | dnsmasq | 2.80-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | dnsmasq | 2.80-1 | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | dnsmasq | 2.90-0ubuntu0.22.04.1 | — |
Show 2 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTS | dnsmasq | 2.90-0ubuntu0.18.04.1+esm1 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 14.04 LTS | dnsmasq | 2.68-1ubuntu0.2+esm6 | USN-8311-1 |
Advisories 1
- USN-8311-1 dnsmasq vulnerability Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · May 27, 2026
References
- ExploitDB-48301 exploit
- Software Link for dnsmasq 2.79-1 product
- VulnCheck Advisory: dnsmasq-utils 2.79-1 - 'dhcp_release' Denial of Service third-party-advisory