In Unbound 1.9.0 up to and including 1.25.1, when a DNSCrypt query is received over TCP, the routine that encrypts the
Affects unboundSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.5 High · fixed in 1.6.7-1ubuntu2.6+esm6 : patch unbound soon.
Data as of 11 Nov 2026, 12:40 UTC
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 1.6.7-1ubuntu2.6+esm6, 1.9.4-2ubuntu1.11+esm3, 1.13.1-1ubuntu5.17 +3
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 22 Jul 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 11 Nov 2026.
What to do
Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.
Patches and advisories
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 26.10unboundpkg:deb/ubuntu/unbound?arch=source&distro=stonkingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSunboundpkg:deb/ubuntu/unbound?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSunboundpkg:deb/ubuntu/unbound?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 22.04 LTSunboundpkg:deb/ubuntu/unbound?arch=source&distro=jammyOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTSunboundpkg:deb/ubuntu/unbound?arch=source&distro=esm-infra/focalOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTSunboundpkg:deb/ubuntu/unbound?arch=source&distro=esm-infra/bionicOther 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
A patch is available and should be applied. Fixed versions include 1.6.7-1ubuntu2.6+esm6, 1.9.4-2ubuntu1.11+esm3, 1.13.1-1ubuntu5.17, 1.19.2-1ubuntu3.12, 1.25.1-1ubuntu3.1, and 1.24.2-1ubuntu2.4. Users should upgrade to these or later versions. If upgrading is not immediately possible, disabling DNSCrypt support or the 'dnscrypt:' clause on listening interfaces will mitigate the vulnerability. No other specific mitigations are indicated.
Description
Unbound versions 1.9.0 through 1.25.1 contain a vulnerability in the DNSCrypt TCP query handling where the reply encryption routine does not properly bound the reply length against the destination buffer size. This can cause a heap buffer overflow when processing replies larger than 65504 bytes, leading to a denial of service via resolver crash. The vulnerability requires Unbound to be compiled with DNSCrypt support and configured to enable the 'dnscrypt:' clause on listening interfaces.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-40691 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-40691 (opens in a new tab)
- community.nlnetlabs.nl/t/unbound-1-25-2-released/3430 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8946-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8946-2 (opens in a new tab)