# CVE-1999-0009: ISC BIND buffer overflow in inverse query handling

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-1999-0009-isc-bind-buffer-overflow-in-inverse-query-handling  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 1998-04-08. Updated: 2026-05-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-1999-0009 · Severity: critical · CVSS 10 · Published 1998-04-08

BIND is a critical piece of internet infrastructure used to translate human-readable website names into computer-readable IP addresses. A vulnerability in older versions of this software allows an attacker to take complete control of the server over the network without needing a password. This could lead to a total service outage, data theft, or the redirection of internet traffic to malicious sites.

Technologies: [Isc Bind](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/bind). Vendors: [Isc](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/isc).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-1999-0009 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-1999-0009 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-1999-0009?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 10, published 8 April 1998.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Isc Bind 4.9, 8.x.

**Is there a fix for CVE-1999-0009?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-1999-0009 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a hosted service.

**Am I affected by CVE-1999-0009?** Check whether you run Isc Bind at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Technical details

A classic stack-based buffer overflow exists in the inverse query (IQUERY) handling logic of BIND 4.9 and BIND 8. An unauthenticated remote attacker can send a specially crafted DNS inverse query packet to the BIND service, triggering the overflow. This occurs because the software fails to properly validate the length of the input before copying it into a fixed-size buffer. Successful exploitation allows for arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the BIND process, typically root on many legacy installations, leading to full system compromise. This vulnerability is mitigated by disabling inverse queries or upgrading to a patched version of BIND.

## Affected products

- ISC BIND 4.9, 8.x

## Timeline

- 1998-04-08: disclosed

## References

- [http://sunsolve.sun.com/pub-cgi/retrieve.pl?doctype=coll&doc=secbull/180](http://sunsolve.sun.com/pub-cgi/retrieve.pl?doctype=coll&doc=secbull/180)
- [http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/134](http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/134)
- [http://www1.itrc.hp.com/service/cki/docDisplay.do?docId=HPSBUX9808-083](http://www1.itrc.hp.com/service/cki/docDisplay.do?docId=HPSBUX9808-083)

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