CVE-2002-1219 in BIND
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in named in BIND 4 versions 4.9.10 and earlier, and 8 versions 8.3.3 and earlier, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a certain DNS server response containing SIG resource records (RR).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/07/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2002-1219 represents a critical buffer overflow condition within the Berkeley Internet Name Domain (BIND) software suite, specifically affecting versions 4.9.10 and earlier, as well as version 8.3.3 and earlier. This flaw exists in the named daemon implementation that processes DNS server responses, particularly when handling SIG resource records that are part of the DNS security extensions. The buffer overflow occurs during the parsing of DNS responses containing these specific resource record types, creating a potential attack vector that could be exploited by remote adversaries without requiring authentication or prior access to the system.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the DNS response processing logic of BIND. When the named daemon receives a DNS response containing SIG resource records, it fails to properly validate the length of data contained within these records before copying them into fixed-size buffers. This classic buffer overflow condition allows an attacker to overwrite adjacent memory locations with malicious data, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the named process. The vulnerability specifically affects the handling of DNS security signatures that are used to authenticate DNS responses and prevent cache poisoning attacks, creating a paradox where the security mechanism becomes a vector for exploitation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution, as it can enable attackers to gain full control over affected DNS servers. This compromise can result in complete denial of service, cache poisoning attacks, and the ability to redirect traffic to malicious destinations. The vulnerability affects systems running older versions of BIND software where attackers can craft malicious DNS responses that trigger the buffer overflow condition. Given that DNS servers are critical infrastructure components, the exploitation of this vulnerability can have widespread consequences for network availability and security, potentially affecting thousands of domains and services that rely on the compromised DNS infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-1219 require immediate software updates to patched versions of BIND, as well as network-level protections such as DNS security extensions implementation and monitoring for suspicious DNS traffic patterns. Organizations should implement proper input validation controls and consider deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify malformed DNS responses containing oversized SIG records. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and maps to attack techniques in the ATT&CK framework under T1071.004 for application layer protocol traffic and T1059.007 for command and script interpreter execution. System administrators should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts.