Heap buffer overflow and possible Remote Code Execution when digesting DNSKEY (CVE-2026-81642) | HOL Guard CVE

Unknown severity · Source severity not reportedCVE-2026-81642

Heap buffer overflow and possible Remote Code Execution when digesting DNSKEY

Answer in brief

CVE-2026-81642 records a Unknown severity vulnerability in Heap buffer overflow and possible Remote Code Execution when digesting DNSKEY. The current sources do not mark it as known exploited. The current feed maps NLnet Labs/Unbound (generic). Check affected ranges and fixed versions before updating.

Analysis pending evidence review

HOL Guard separates source facts from reviewed analysis. See the methodology.

Published Sep 16, 2026Updated Sep 16, 2026Source checked Sep 16, 2026First seen by HOL Sep 16, 2026Material review Sep 16, 2026

Upstream Advisory

Key facts

Risk: Unknown severitySource severity not reported
Exploitation: Not marked as known exploited
Affected software: 1 mapped package or product
Fix availability: Available

Why this deserves its current priority

A CVSS score is not reported in the current record. The current sources do not mark it as known exploited. Treat this as a source-backed prioritization signal, not a statement about your environment.

Analysis status

Analysis pending evidence review

Factual feed record only; HOL analysis is not approved for indexing. Read the methodology.

Affected scope and exposure questions

The current feed maps NLnet Labs/Unbound (generic). Check affected ranges and fixed versions before updating.

Mapped affected packages and fixed versions
Package	Affected range	Fixed version
NLnet Labs/Unboundgeneric	>=0 <1.26.1	1.26.1

Recommended response

Check inventory. Check lockfiles and deployed manifests for NLnet Labs/Unbound.
Review the reported fix. Update NLnet Labs/Unbound to 1.26.1 if you use the affected versions. Test the change in a non-production environment first.

Evidence timeline and material changes

Published upstream
Sep 16, 2026
Evidence: source:cvelist:source_dates:source-dates:record
Source modified
Sep 16, 2026
Evidence: source:cvelist:source_dates:source-dates:record
First seen by HOL
Sep 16, 2026

Sources and claim methodology

Source referencenlnetlabs.nl

Upstream source description

In NLnet Labs Unbound up to and including 1.26.0, a vulnerability was found in the DNSSEC validator that enables denial of service and possible remote code execution as a result of digesting DNSKEYs. A DNSKEY with an owner compression pointer to its own RDATA can overflow the digest buffer. Remote code execution is possible through attacker controlled data. An adversary can exploit the vulnerability by controlling a malicious zone and querying a vulnerable Unbound.

Quoted source text, attributed separately from HOL analysis.