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Full vulnerability report · 2025
CVE-2025-62408High confidence

c-ares has a Use After Free vulnerability when connection is cleaned up after error

c-ares · c-ares

Official source article: GitHub GHSA-JQ53-42Q6-PQR5 ↗. Check the applicable product and release in the original source.

5.9MediumCVSS 3.1
Recommended action
Scheduled

Medium technical severity with no CISA KEV confirmation; remediate through the normal risk-based patch cycle unless local exposure raises the priority.

Patch available
R
Operational reassessment

Published severity in operational context

Open reassessment dashboard →
Published severityMediumOperational priority:Medium, unchanged from published severity.unchanged

Evidence used

  • No CISA KEV confirmation is currently recorded.
  • The selected CVSS metric records a network-reachable, unauthenticated path with no user interaction.
  • EPSS is 0.43% for the current model date.

Compensating controls

  • Validate the affected product branch and deploy the verified fixed release.
  • Restrict the affected network interface to trusted sources where business-safe.
  • Monitor vendor guidance and exploitation sources for a material change.

Verification

  1. Confirm that the asset runs c-ares c-ares and falls inside the recorded affected range.
  2. Verify the installed build against the product-specific fixed version after deployment.
  3. Validate exposure, authentication requirements and compensating controls in the actual environment.
  4. Reopen this reassessment when CVSS, KEV, EPSS, exploit evidence or remediation changes.
Mitigation target: As exposure requiresRemediation target: Within 365 days

This automated reassessment organises public evidence. It does not know asset exposure, business impact or control effectiveness and does not replace CVSS or a human risk decision.

Distribution package intelligence

Release-specific package status

Alpine, Debian findings are scoped to the named distribution, release and source package. An absent finding does not mean a package is unaffected.

7 package states
Repository candidate not checked

A published vendor fix does not prove that a matching update is enabled and installable on a particular asset. Confirm the local package candidate before scheduling remediation.

Distribution releaseSource packageVendor stateFixed versionEvidence
Alpine v3.23v3.23 · mainc-aresVendor fix publishedAlpine records a security fix at this version. An absent entry does not mean the package is unaffected.1.34.6-r0Alpine Security Database ↗Source updated 3 Oct 2026
Alpine v3.22v3.22 · mainc-aresVendor fix publishedAlpine records a security fix at this version. An absent entry does not mean the package is unaffected.1.34.6-r0Alpine Security Database ↗Source updated 3 Oct 2026
Alpine v3.21v3.21 · mainc-aresVendor fix publishedAlpine records a security fix at this version. An absent entry does not mean the package is unaffected.1.34.6-r0Alpine Security Database ↗Source updated 3 Oct 2026
Debian trixietrixie · sourcec-aresVendor fix publishedDebian records a fixed source-package version for this release.1.34.5-1+deb13u1Debian Security Tracker ↗Source updated 6 Oct 2026
Debian bookwormbookworm · sourcec-aresNot affectedDebian marks this release not affected (fixed-version marker 0).Not published in this feedDebian Security Tracker ↗Source updated 6 Oct 2026
Debian forkyforky · sourcec-aresVendor fix publishedDebian records a fixed source-package version for this release.1.34.6-1Debian Security Tracker ↗Source updated 6 Oct 2026
Debian sidsid · sourcec-aresVendor fix publishedDebian records a fixed source-package version for this release.1.34.6-1Debian Security Tracker ↗Source updated 6 Oct 2026
Direct vendor intelligence

Authoritative vendor CSAF and VEX advisories

Structured product status and remediation from the issuing vendor. Product-state explanations are always visible; large lists can be searched or downloaded.

2 current
CVE-2025-62408 · CSAF 2.0 · revision 24 · interimSUSE Product Security TeamCVE-2025-62408
15 known affected

The vendor explicitly identifies these products as affected by this CVE.

  • SLES 15 SP1 CHOST Images for Amazon EC2
  • SLES 15 SP2 CHOST Images for Amazon EC2
  • SLES 15 SP3 CHOST Images for Amazon EC2
  • SLES 15 SP4 CHOST Images for Amazon EC2
  • SLES 15 SP5 CHOST Images for Amazon EC2
  • SLES 15 SP1 CHOST Images for Google
  • SLES 15 SP2 CHOST Images for Google
  • SLES 15 SP3 CHOST Images for Google
  • SLES 15 SP4 CHOST Images for Google
  • SLES 15 SP5 CHOST Images for Google
  • SLES 15 SP1 CHOST Images for Microsoft Azure
  • SLES 15 SP2 CHOST Images for Microsoft Azure
Summary
c-ares is an asynchronous resolver library. Versions 1.32.3 through 1.34.5 terminate a query after maximum attempts when using read_answer() and process_answer(), which can cause a Denial of Service. This issue is fixed in version 1.34.6.
Remediation
To install this SUSE Security Update use the SUSE recommended installation methods like YaST online_update or "zypper patch".
CVE-2025-62408 · CSAF 2.0 · revision 3 · finalRed Hat Product Securityc-ares: c-ares: Denial of Service due to query termination after maximum attempts
90 known affected

The vendor explicitly identifies these products as affected by this CVE.

  • c-ares as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
  • c-ares-devel as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
  • c-ares.src as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
  • nodejs as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
  • nodejs-devel as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
  • nodejs-docs as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
  • nodejs-full-i18n as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
  • nodejs-libs as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
  • nodejs-npm as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
  • nodejs22.src as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
  • nodejs24 as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
  • nodejs24-devel as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
Summary
A flaw was found in c-ares. This vulnerability allows a Denial of Service (DoS) via terminating a query after maximum attempts when using `read_answer()` and `process_answer()` functions.
Remediation
For details on how to apply this update, which includes the changes described in this advisory, refer to: https://images.redhat.com/
Optional official sources

National CERT insights
?CERT means Computer Emergency Response Team; CSIRT is the closely related term Computer Security Incident Response Team.

Choose official national sources for this report. Each advisory shows its original language. Your selection is remembered on this device and included in shared links.

Official European source

ENISA European Vulnerability Database

Official EUVD identifiers, advisory evidence and known-exploited context. Missing fields are not treated as evidence of low risk.

1 current
ENISA EUVD identifier

EUVD-2025-201830

No EUVD known-exploited evidence

ENISA has published the identifier mapping but no EUVD description has been stored yet.

EUVD state
Present in the current official mapping
Known exploitation
Not present in the current ENISA EUVD known-exploited dataset. This is not proof of no exploitation.
ENISA score
Not supplied in the stored EUVD record
Advisory evidence
No linked advisory details stored yet
Recommended actionScheduled

Medium technical severity with no CISA KEV confirmation; remediate through the normal risk-based patch cycle unless local exposure raises the priority.

Patch available
01

What, why and how

c-ares is an asynchronous resolver library. Versions 1.32.3 through 1.34.5 terminate a query after maximum attempts when using read_answer() and process_answer(), which can cause a Denial of Service. This issue is fixed in version 1.34.6.

What

c-ares is an asynchronous resolver library. Versions 1.32.3 through 1.34.5 terminate a query after maximum attempts when using read_answer() and process_answer(), which can cause a Denial of Service. This issue is fixed in version 1.34.6.

Why

The program can continue using memory after it has been released, producing unsafe and attacker-influenceable behaviour.

How

An attacker operating through a network path may attempt exploitation without authentication or user interaction. If successful, the issue may disrupt the affected service.

What

c-ares is an asynchronous resolver library. Versions 1.32.3 through 1.34.5 terminate a query after maximum attempts when using read_answer() and process_answer(), which can cause a Denial of Service. This issue is fixed in version 1.34.6.

Why

The program can continue using memory after it has been released, producing unsafe and attacker-influenceable behaviour.

How

An attacker operating through a network path may attempt exploitation without authentication or user interaction. If successful, the issue may disrupt the affected service.

02

Exploit reality and attack path

CVSS severity, EPSS forecast probability, public exploit material and CISA-confirmed exploitation are separate signals.

Observed exploitation
?Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.
No confirmed evidence

No CISA KEV match was present at the last successful refresh. This means no confirmation from that source, not proof of no exploitation.

Public PoC / exploit material
?Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.
None recorded

No exploit-tagged reference or CISA SSVC proof-of-concept state is currently recorded. Research may still exist outside the structured feeds.

Likely attack path
a network path → Use After Free → disrupt the affected service
Attack surface
Network
Privileges required
None: unauthenticated exploitation is possible
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
High: exploitation depends on specific conditions
Security boundary
Unchanged: impact remains within the vulnerable component's security authority
Weakness
?CWE means Common Weakness Enumeration: a standard category for the underlying weakness.
CWE-416 ↗

CWE-416: Use After Free. The product reuses or references memory after it has been freed. At some point afterward, the memory may be allocated again and saved in another pointer, while the original pointer references a location somewhere within the new allocation. Any operations using the original pointer are no longer valid because the memory belongs to the code that operates on the new pointer.

CVSS vector
?CVSS means Common Vulnerability Scoring System. The vector records the metric values used to calculate technical severity.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Common Vulnerability Scoring System 3.1: the compact vector below is decoded into plain language.

AVNetworkAttack vector: The vulnerable component can be reached over a network.ACHighAttack complexity: Successful exploitation depends on specific conditions outside the attacker's direct control.PRNonePrivileges required: The attacker does not need an account or existing privileges.UINoneUser interaction: No action by another user is required.SUnchangedScope: The security impact remains within the vulnerable component's authority.CNoneConfidentiality impact: No direct loss is represented by this metric.INoneIntegrity impact: No direct loss is represented by this metric.AHighAvailability impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.
Post-exploitation / living off the land
No specific living-off-the-land technique is confirmed in the structured sources. Monitor normal administration tools for activity inconsistent with the affected service's baseline.
NetworkUnauthenticatedDenial of serviceCWE-416
A

Official authority intelligence

Only matched European and national findings are included. Language selectors and unavailable sources are omitted.

BSI · German · WID-SEC-2026-1730Xerox FreeFlow Print Server: Mehrere Schwachstellen ermöglichen nicht spezifizierten Angriff

Ein Angreifer kann mehrere Schwachstellen in Xerox FreeFlow Print Server ausnutzen, um einen nicht näher spezifizierten Angriff durchzuführen.

Official advisory ↗
BSI · German · WID-SEC-2025-2922NetApp Data ONTAP: Schwachstelle ermöglicht Denial of Service

Ein entfernter, anonymer Angreifer kann eine Schwachstelle in NetApp Data ONTAP ausnutzen, um einen Denial of Service Angriff durchzuführen.

Official advisory ↗
Cyber Security Agency of Singapore · English · CSA-SB-20251210Security Bulletin 10 Dec 2025

The Cyber Security Agency of Singapore included this CVE in its official Security Bulletin 10 Dec 2025, published on 10 December 2025. Open the linked bulletin for the product, severity and reference information published in that issue.

Official advisory ↗
CERT-FR · French · CERTFR-2026-AVI-0281Multiples vulnérabilités dans les produits Splunk

ecord?id=CVE-2025-59729 Référence CVE CVE-2025-59730 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-59730 Référence CVE CVE-2025-6069 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-6069 Référence CVE CVE-2025-6075 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-6075 Référence CVE CVE-2025-60753 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-60753 Référence CVE CVE-2025-61723 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-61723 Référence CVE CVE-2025-61724 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-61724 Référence CVE CVE-2025-61725 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-61725 Référence CVE CVE-2025-61795 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-61795 Référence CVE CVE-2025-62408 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-62408 Référence CVE CVE-2025-6395 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-6395 Référence CVE CVE-2025-64181 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-64181 Référence CVE CVE-2025-64182 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-64182 Référence CVE CVE-2025-64183 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-64183 Référence CVE CVE-2025-64718 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-64718 Référence CVE CVE-2025-66199 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-66199 Référence CVE CVE-2025-67735 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-67735 Référence CVE CVE-2025-68160 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CV

Official advisory ↗
CERT-FR · French · CERTFR-2026-AVI-0218Multiples vulnérabilités dans les produits VMware

ord?id=CVE-2025-61725 Référence CVE CVE-2025-61726 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-61726 Référence CVE CVE-2025-61727 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-61727 Référence CVE CVE-2025-61728 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-61728 Référence CVE CVE-2025-61729 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-61729 Référence CVE CVE-2025-61730 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-61730 Référence CVE CVE-2025-61731 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-61731 Référence CVE CVE-2025-61732 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-61732 Référence CVE CVE-2025-6176 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-6176 Référence CVE CVE-2025-62408 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-62408 Référence CVE CVE-2025-62727 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-62727 Référence CVE CVE-2025-6395 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-6395 Référence CVE CVE-2025-64505 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-64505 Référence CVE CVE-2025-64506 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-64506 Référence CVE CVE-2025-64702 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-64702 Référence CVE CVE-2025-64718 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-64718 Référence CVE CVE-2025-64720 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-64720 Référence CVE CVE-2025-65018 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CV

Official advisory ↗
CERT-FR · French · CERTFR-2026-AVI-0093Multiples vulnérabilités dans Tenable Network Monitor

ERecord?id=CVE-2025-15079 Référence CVE CVE-2025-15224 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-15224 Référence CVE CVE-2025-31498 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-31498 Référence CVE CVE-2025-4947 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-4947 Référence CVE CVE-2025-49794 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-49794 Référence CVE CVE-2025-49796 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-49796 Référence CVE CVE-2025-5025 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-5025 Référence CVE CVE-2025-59375 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-59375 Référence CVE CVE-2025-6021 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-6021 Référence CVE CVE-2025-62408 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-62408 Référence CVE CVE-2025-7425 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-7425 Gestion détaillée du document le 28 janvier 2026 Version initiale Alertes Avis Bulletins d’actualités Mentions légales Conditions générales À propos Contact cyber.gouv.fr service-public.fr legifrance.gouv.fr info.gouv.fr france.fr info.gouv.fr/risques Premier Ministre / Secrétariat Général de la Défense et de la Sécurité Nationale / Agence nationale de la sécurité des systèmes d'information

Official advisory ↗
JVN iPedia · Japanese · JVNDB-2025-025700c-aresにおける解放済みメモリの使用に関する脆弱性

c-aresは非同期リゾルバライブラリです。バージョン1.32.3から1.34.5まででは、read_answer()およびprocess_answer()を使用した際に最大試行回数を超えるとクエリが終了し、サービス拒否(DoS)を引き起こす可能性がありました。この問題はバージョン1.34.6で修正されています。

Official advisory ↗
03

Patch and workaround

Operational remediation based on structured source evidence.

Status
?Patch availability is based on structured fixed-version fields and authoritative update references. If no fix is verified, check the vendor advisory before making a change.
Patch available
Affected
Fixed
1.34.6.
Action
To install this SUSE Security Update use the SUSE recommended installation methods like YaST online_update or "zypper patch".
Workaround
No verified workaround is recorded. If business-safe, reduce exposure to the affected interface and allow only trusted sources until authoritative guidance is available.
04

Evidence and provenance

Published 8 Dec 2025 · Last source change 9 Dec 2025, 16:05 UTC · CWE-416 · Use After Free

CVE recordCVE.org · 5.2
CVSS sourceCNA
EPSS source
?The date BlackTree first stored a score for this CVE from the daily FIRST EPSS feed.
FIRST · tracked since 2026-08-14
European sourceENISA EUVD · EUVD-2025-201830
Product sourceVendor CSAF · SUSE Product Security Team
Remediation sourceVendor CSAF · SUSE Product Security Team
CWE sourceCNA
NVD statusNVD enriched

Core structured fields are present and their contributing authorities are shown above.

Material change intelligence

What changed after publication

View recent updates ↗
  1. Affected versionsThe structured affected or fixed version information changed.
    Before
    c-ares as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10; c-ares-devel as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10; c-ares.src as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10; nodejs as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10; nodejs-devel as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10; nodejs-docs as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10; nodejs-full-i18n as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10; nodejs-libs as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10; nodejs-npm as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10; nodejs22.src as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10; nodejs24 as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10; nodejs24-devel as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10; nodejs24-docs as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10; nodejs24-full-i18n as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10; nodejs24-libs as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10; nodejs24-npm as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10; nodejs24.src as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10; c-ares-devel as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6; c-ares.src as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6; c-ares as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7; c-ares-devel as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7; c-ares.src as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7; c-ares as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8; c-ares-devel as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8; c-ares.src as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8; nodejs-devel (nodejs:20) as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8; nodejs-devel (nodejs:22) as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8; nodejs-devel (nodejs:24) as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8; nodejs-docs (nodejs:20) as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8; nodejs-docs (nodejs:22) as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8; and 59 more · Fixed: c-ares-main@aarch64 as a component of Red Hat Hardened Images; c-ares-main@src as a component of Red Hat Hardened Images; c-ares-main@x86_64 as a component of Red Hat Hardened Images
    After
    c-ares as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10; c-ares-devel as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10; c-ares.src as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10; nodejs as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10; nodejs-devel as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10; nodejs-docs as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10; nodejs-full-i18n as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10; nodejs-libs as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10; nodejs-npm as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10; nodejs22.src as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10; nodejs24 as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10; nodejs24-devel as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10; nodejs24-docs as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10; nodejs24-full-i18n as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10; nodejs24-libs as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10; nodejs24-npm as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10; nodejs24.src as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10; c-ares-devel as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6; c-ares.src as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6; c-ares as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7; c-ares-devel as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7; c-ares.src as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7; c-ares as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8; c-ares-devel as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8; c-ares.src as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8; nodejs-devel (nodejs:20) as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8; nodejs-devel (nodejs:22) as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8; nodejs-devel (nodejs:24) as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8; nodejs-docs (nodejs:20) as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8; nodejs-docs (nodejs:22) as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8; and 60 more · Fixed: c-ares-main@aarch64 as a component of Red Hat Hardened Images; c-ares-main@src as a component of Red Hat Hardened Images; c-ares-main@x86_64 as a component of Red Hat Hardened Images
    Red Hat Product Security ↗
Material fields only · duplicate refreshes suppressed · history retained for the configured operational retention period
Technical terms and abbreviations used in this report
CVE
Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures: the public identifier for one disclosed vulnerability.
CVSS
Common Vulnerability Scoring System: a technical severity framework; it is not patching priority by itself.
EPSS
Exploit Prediction Scoring System: FIRST's estimate of the probability that exploitation activity will be observed in the next 30 days; it is a forecast, not confirmation.
CWE
Common Weakness Enumeration: the standard category describing the underlying software or hardware weakness.
CNA
CVE Numbering Authority: an organisation authorised to assign and publish CVE records.
CISA ADP
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Authorized Data Publisher: structured enrichment added to a CVE record.
NVD
National Vulnerability Database: NIST's enrichment service for CVE records.
CERT / CSIRT
A computer security incident response team that publishes warnings or coordinates incident response.
PoC
Proof of concept: public material that demonstrates or helps reproduce exploitation.
CSAF
Common Security Advisory Framework: a machine-readable format for security advisories.
LoTL
Living off the land: abuse of legitimate tools or system functions during an attack.
Free version - for non-commercial use only.CVE-2025-62408 · cve.blacktree.nl