CVE-2024-25629
Published: February 24, 2024Last modified: July 22, 2025
Description
c-ares is a C library for asynchronous DNS requests. `ares__read_line()` is used to parse local configuration files such as `/etc/resolv.conf`, `/etc/nsswitch.conf`, the `HOSTALIASES` file, and if using a c-ares version prior to 1.27.0, the `/etc/hosts` file. If any of these configuration files has an embedded `NULL` character as the first character in a new line, it can lead to attempting to read memory prior to the start of the given buffer which may result in a crash. This issue is fixed in c-ares 1.27.0. No known workarounds exist.
Severity score breakdown
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Base score | 5.5 |
| Attack Vector | LOCAL |
| Attack complexity | LOW |
| Privileges required | LOW |
| User interaction | NONE |
| Scope | UNCHANGED |
| Confidentiality | NONE |
| Integrity impact | NONE |
| Availability impact | HIGH |
| Vector | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H |
Status
| Product | Release | Package | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpaquita Linux | 23 LTS | c-ares | Fixed (1.19.1-r1) |
| Stream | c-ares | Fixed (1.27.0-r0) | |
| Hardened Containers | Stream | c-ares | Fixed (1.27.0-r0) |
References
- https://github.com/c-ares/c-ares/commit/a804c04ddc8245fc8adf0e92368709639125e183
- https://github.com/c-ares/c-ares/security/advisories/GHSA-mg26-v6qh-x48q
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/[email protected]/message/2P76QYINQNPEHUTEEDOUYIRZ2X6UVZ5K/
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/[email protected]/message/CSCMTSPDIE2UHU34TIXQQHZ6JTE3Y3VF/
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/[email protected]/message/GX37LFPFQ3T6FFMMFYQTEGIQXXN7F27U/