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CVE-2017-14491

85
FAUCET Score

CVE-2017-14491 is a critical heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability in dnsmasq versions prior to 2.78, affecting a wide range of products including those from Arista, Huawei, Microsoft, and various Linux distributions. This flaw allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or execute arbitrary code via a crafted DNS response. With a CVSS score of 9.8 (CRITICAL) and an EPSS score indicating high exploitability, it presents a significant risk due to its network-based attack vector and low attack complexity. While not on CISA's KEV catalog, public exploit code exists (EDB-42941), and it has garnered substantial community discussion and media coverage, indicating widespread awareness and potential for exploitation.

Impacted Technologies

VendorProductVersion(s)CPE
<= 2.77CPE matchmatch criteria
cpe:2.3:a:thekelleys:dnsmasq:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
6.0CPE matchmatch criteria
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_desktop:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
7.0CPE matchmatch criteria
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_desktop:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
6.0CPE matchmatch criteria
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
7.0CPE matchmatch criteria
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

CVSS Data

CVSS version used by this source: 3.1

9.8CRITICAL

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack Vector
NETWORK
Attack Complexity
LOW
Privileges Required
NONE
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality Impact
HIGH
Integrity Impact
HIGH
Availability Impact
HIGH
Exploitability Score
3.9
Impact Score
5.9
CvssVersion
3.1

Exploit Intelligence

EPSS Score
84.92%
Probability of exploitation in next 30 days
EPSS Percentile
99.7%
Percentile rank of EPSS score among Peer Group
As of 2026-07-25
Model: v2026.06.15
ExploitDB: EDB-42941 · Oct 2, 2017
This CVE's current EPSS score of 0.8492 is in the 99th percentile among its peer group of 36,833 CVEs.

Social Chatter

The average CVE in this peer group has 0.0 Twitter, 0.1 Reddit, 0.3 Bluesky, 0.3 Mastodon, and 2.4 GitHub mentions.

Media Mentions

The average CVE in this peer group has 0.3 InfoSec Media, 0.0 Vendor Blog, and 0.0 Security Researcher mentions.

Remediation

Patch Available

Vendor Patches (13)

redhatpatch availablevia redhat_api
Product: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.9 Long LifeFixed in: dnsmasq-0:2.45-2.el5_9.1
View patch
redhatpatch availablevia redhat_api
Product: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 Extended Lifecycle SupportFixed in: dnsmasq-0:2.45-2.el5_11.1
View patch
redhatpatch availablevia redhat_api
Product: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6Fixed in: dnsmasq-0:2.48-18.el6_9
View patch
redhatpatch availablevia redhat_api
Product: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.2 Advanced Update SupportFixed in: dnsmasq-0:2.48-5.el6_2.2
View patch
redhatpatch availablevia redhat_api
Product: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.4 Advanced Update SupportFixed in: dnsmasq-0:2.48-13.el6_4.1
View patch
redhatpatch availablevia redhat_api
Product: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.5 Advanced Update SupportFixed in: dnsmasq-0:2.48-13.el6_5.1
View patch
redhatpatch availablevia redhat_api
Product: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.5 Telco Extended Update SupportFixed in: dnsmasq-0:2.48-13.el6_5.1
View patch
redhatpatch availablevia redhat_api
Product: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.6 Advanced Update SupportFixed in: dnsmasq-0:2.48-14.el6_6.1
View patch
redhatpatch availablevia redhat_api
Product: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.6 Telco Extended Update SupportFixed in: dnsmasq-0:2.48-14.el6_6.1
View patch
redhatpatch availablevia redhat_api
Product: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.7 Extended Update SupportFixed in: dnsmasq-0:2.48-16.el6_7.1
View patch
redhatpatch availablevia redhat_api
Product: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7Fixed in: dnsmasq-0:2.76-2.el7_4.2
View patch
redhatpatch availablevia redhat_api
Product: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.2 Extended Update SupportFixed in: dnsmasq-0:2.66-14.el7_2.2
View patch
redhatpatch availablevia redhat_api
Product: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.3 Extended Update SupportFixed in: dnsmasq-0:2.66-21.el7_3.2
View patch

Vendor Advisories (1)

redhatCVE-2017-14491Critical

dnsmasq: heap overflow in the code responsible for building DNS replies

Oct 2, 2017

References

lists.opensuse.org / opensuse-security-announce/2017-10/msg00003.html
Mailing ListThird Party Advisory
lists.opensuse.org / opensuse-security-announce/2017-10/msg00004.html
Mailing ListThird Party Advisory
lists.opensuse.org / opensuse-security-announce/2017-10/msg00005.html
Mailing ListThird Party Advisory
lists.opensuse.org / opensuse-security-announce/2017-10/msg00006.html
Mailing ListThird Party Advisory
nvidia.custhelp.com / app/answers/detail/a_id/4560
Third Party Advisory
nvidia.custhelp.com / app/answers/detail/a_id/4561
Third Party Advisory
packetstormsecurity.com / files/144480/Dnsmasq-2-Byte-Heap-Based-Overflow.html
ExploitThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
access.redhat.com / errata/RHSA-2017:2836
Third Party Advisory
access.redhat.com / errata/RHSA-2017:2837
Third Party Advisory
access.redhat.com / errata/RHSA-2017:2838
Third Party Advisory
access.redhat.com / errata/RHSA-2017:2839
Third Party Advisory
access.redhat.com / errata/RHSA-2017:2840
Third Party Advisory
access.redhat.com / errata/RHSA-2017:2841
Third Party Advisory
access.redhat.com / security/vulnerabilities/3199382
Third Party Advisory
cert-portal.siemens.com / productcert/pdf/ssa-689071.pdf
PatchThird Party Advisory
lists.fedoraproject.org / archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/527KNN34RN2SB6MBJG7CKSEBWYE3TJEB
lists.fedoraproject.org / archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/5MMPCJOYPPL4B5RBY4U425PWG7EETDTD
lists.fedoraproject.org / archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/YXRZ2W6TV6NLUJC5NOFBSG6PZSMDTYPV
security.gentoo.org / glsa/201710-27
Third Party Advisory
security.googleblog.com / 2017/10/behind-masq-yet-more-dns-and-dhcp.html
Third Party Advisory
arista.com / en/support/advisories-notices/security-advisories/3577-security-advisory-30
MitigationThird Party Advisory
broadcom.com / support/fibre-channel-networking/security-advisories/brocade-security-advisory-2017-449
Third Party Advisory
broadcom.com / support/fibre-channel-networking/security-advisories/brocade-security-advisory-2017-449
Third Party Advisory
debian.org / security/2017/dsa-3989
Third Party Advisory
exploit-db.com / exploits/42941
ExploitThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
kb.cert.org / vuls/id/973527
Third Party AdvisoryUS Government Resource
mail-archive.com / dnsmasq-discuss%40lists.thekelleys.org.uk/msg11664.html
mail-archive.com / dnsmasq-discuss%40lists.thekelleys.org.uk/msg11665.html
synology.com / support/security/Synology_SA_17_59_Dnsmasq
Third Party Advisory
thekelleys.org.uk / dnsmasq/CHANGELOG
Release NotesVendor Advisory
thekelleys.org.uk / gitweb
arubanetworks.com / assets/alert/ARUBA-PSA-2017-005.txt
Third Party Advisory
debian.org / security/2017/dsa-3989
Third Party Advisory
huawei.com / en/psirt/security-advisories/huawei-sa-20171103-01-dnsmasq-en
Third Party Advisory
securityfocus.com / bid/101085
Broken Link
securityfocus.com / bid/101977
Broken Link
securitytracker.com / id/1039474
Broken Link
ubuntu.com / usn/USN-3430-1
Third Party Advisory
ubuntu.com / usn/USN-3430-2
Third Party Advisory
ubuntu.com / usn/USN-3430-3
Third Party Advisory