CVE-2026-33256: PowerDNS Recursor · Unthrottled Resource Allocation
Affects PowerDNS RecursorSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.3 Medium · fixed in 5.4.1 : update PowerDNS Recursor when convenient.
Data as of 30 Oct 2026, 11:52 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.6% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 48% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 5.4.1, 5.3.6, 5.2.9
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:LExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 22 Apr 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponized: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 30 Oct 2026.
What to do
Upgrade Recursor and pdns-recursor to 5.4.1, 5.3.6 or 5.2.9.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| PowerDNSRecursor | Affected
| Fixed in
|
| PowerDNSRecursor | Affected
| Fixed in
|
| PowerDNSRecursor | Affected
| Fixed in
|
GitHubpdns-recursorpkg:github/pdns-recursorOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
AI-suggested
Mitigation includes ensuring the internal web server feature is disabled if not needed, as it is disabled by default.
Description
CVE-2026-33256 is a medium severity vulnerability in PowerDNS Recursor versions 5.2.0, 5.3.0, and 5.4.0. It involves allocation of resources without limits or throttling in the internal web server, which is disabled by default. An attacker can send a web request that triggers unlimited memory allocation, potentially causing a denial of service.