CVE-2026-123595: Hickory DNS DNSSEC validation bypass in NSEC3 handler

CVE-2026-123595 · Severity: high · CVSS 8.8 · Published 2026-11-08

Hickory DNS is a DNS resolver library used to look up internet domain names. A flaw in its DNSSEC validation allows an attacker to inject a specially-crafted DNS response that causes the resolver to permanently cache false "domain does not exist" answers with a trusted signature, blocking legitimate users from resolving existing domains. An attacker only needs to deliver one malicious response—no compromised keys required.

Technologies: Hickory-Dns Hickory-Net, Hickory-Dns Hickory-Proto. Vendors: Hickory-Dns.

Quick answers

Is CVE-2026-123595 exploited in the wild?
No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-123595 being exploited in the wild.
How severe is CVE-2026-123595?
High severity, with a CVSS score of 8.8, published 8 November 2026.
Which products and versions are affected?
Hickory-Dns Hickory-Net 0.26.0-beta.1 before 0.26.2; Hickory-Dns Hickory-Proto 0.25 through 0.26.0-alpha.1.
Is there a fix for CVE-2026-123595?
Yes: fixed in hickory-proto: no patched version released; hickory-net 0.26.2. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.
How is CVE-2026-123595 attacked?
It is attacked over the network, in a software library.
Am I affected by CVE-2026-123595?
Check whether you run Hickory-Dns Hickory-Net or Hickory-Dns Hickory-Proto 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.

How to fix

  • Fixed in: hickory-proto: no patched version released; hickory-net 0.26.2

Technical details

The validating recursor's NSEC3 handler fails to implement RFC 6840 §4.1 and RFC 5155 §8.3 ancestor-delegation exclusion checks. When matching the closest encloser in NXDOMAIN and NODATA proofs, it compares NSEC3 hashes alone without inspecting the type bitmap, allowing parent-side NSEC3 records at zone cuts to be accepted as authentic proof of nonexistence for child-zone names. An attacker can deliver one response using genuinely signed parent NSEC3 records to cause NXDOMAIN or NODATA to be cached with AD=1, denying resolution for up to the negative TTL.

Affected products

  • Hickory DNS hickory-proto 0.25 through 0.26.0-alpha.1
  • Hickory DNS hickory-net 0.26.0-beta.1 before 0.26.2

Timeline

  • 2026-09-03: disclosed: GitHub Security Advisory GHSA-624w-vvww-xvpw published
  • 2026-11-08: advisory: CVE-2026-123595 assigned

References

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