CVE-2007-2925 in BIND
Summary
by MITRE
The default access control lists (ACL) in ISC BIND 9.4.0, 9.4.1, and 9.5.0a1 through 9.5.0a5 do not set the allow-recursion and allow-query-cache ACLs, which allows remote attackers to make recursive queries and query the cache.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/28/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-2925 affects ISC BIND versions 9.4.0 through 9.5.0a5, representing a critical access control flaw that undermines the security posture of DNS infrastructure. This issue stems from the default configuration of access control lists within the BIND DNS server implementation, where crucial ACLs for recursion and cache queries are not properly initialized. The flaw exists in the default installation settings rather than requiring specific malicious configuration changes, making it particularly dangerous as it affects systems that are deployed with standard default parameters.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involves the improper initialization of two critical ACL parameters: allow-recursion and allow-query-cache. When these ACLs are not explicitly configured, they default to allowing unrestricted access to recursive DNS queries and cache interrogation capabilities. This misconfiguration creates an attack surface where remote adversaries can exploit the DNS server to perform unauthorized recursive lookups and access cached DNS records. The vulnerability operates at the network protocol level, specifically targeting the DNS query processing mechanisms within BIND's recursive query handling functionality.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple information disclosure, as it enables several dangerous attack vectors that can compromise DNS infrastructure and potentially lead to broader network security issues. Remote attackers can leverage this flaw to conduct DNS cache poisoning attacks, amplify DNS query traffic for distributed denial-of-service attacks, and gather intelligence about network topology through cache enumeration. The vulnerability also facilitates unauthorized DNS tunneling and can be used to bypass network security controls that rely on DNS traffic monitoring. This represents a significant risk to organizations that depend on BIND for their DNS infrastructure, as the default configuration provides no protection against unauthorized recursive query access.
The security implications align with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control in software systems, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage. Organizations affected by this vulnerability face potential exposure to DNS-based attacks including cache poisoning, traffic amplification for DDoS attacks, and reconnaissance activities that can compromise network visibility. The default nature of the vulnerability means that organizations cannot rely on standard deployment practices for security, as the configuration flaws exist in the baseline installation. Mitigation strategies should focus on explicit ACL configuration, network segmentation, and monitoring of recursive query patterns to detect unauthorized access attempts.
Effective remediation requires immediate configuration updates to explicitly define allow-recursion and allow-query-cache ACLs with restrictive parameters. System administrators must implement proper access controls that limit recursive query capabilities to trusted networks and IP addresses. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security audits and configuration reviews to identify similar default configuration issues in other network services. Organizations should implement network monitoring solutions to detect anomalous DNS query patterns and establish incident response procedures for handling potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular updates and patch management processes should be strengthened to ensure that DNS server configurations remain secure against known vulnerabilities.