CVE-2008-0061 in MaraDNS
Summary
by MITRE
MaraDNS 1.0 before 1.0.41, 1.2 before 1.2.12.08, and 1.3 before 1.3.07.04 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via a crafted DNS packet that prevents an authoritative name (CNAME) record from resolving, aka "improper rotation of resource records."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/02/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-0061 affects MaraDNS versions prior to specific patches, creating a significant denial of service condition through improper handling of DNS packet processing. This issue specifically targets the authoritative name record resolution mechanism within the DNS server implementation, where crafted malicious packets can cause the system to fail in properly rotating resource records. The flaw manifests when the DNS server receives specially constructed packets that disrupt the normal operation of CNAME record resolution, effectively preventing legitimate DNS queries from being processed correctly. This vulnerability operates at the core of DNS server functionality and represents a critical weakness in the authoritative name server implementation that can be exploited remotely by attackers without requiring authentication or special privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate validation and processing of DNS packets within the MaraDNS authoritative server component. When the server encounters a crafted DNS packet that triggers improper rotation of resource records, the internal state management becomes corrupted or enters an inconsistent state where CNAME records cannot be properly resolved. This condition typically occurs during the processing of authoritative responses where the server maintains a rotating set of resource records for efficient query handling. The flaw lies in the server's inability to gracefully handle malformed or specially crafted packets that manipulate the record rotation algorithm, leading to a complete breakdown in the name resolution process for affected domains. According to CWE classification, this represents a weakness in the design and implementation of resource record handling mechanisms, specifically categorized under CWE-248 for "Uncaught Exception" and CWE-400 for "Uncontrolled Resource Consumption."
The operational impact of CVE-2008-0061 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise the entire DNS infrastructure managed by affected MaraDNS instances. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability to systematically deny service to legitimate DNS queries, causing cascading failures in applications and services that depend on proper DNS resolution. The attack can be executed from anywhere on the internet without requiring any authentication credentials, making it particularly dangerous for DNS servers that are publicly accessible. Network administrators may observe sudden and unexplained DNS resolution failures, followed by complete service outages for domains served by the vulnerable MaraDNS instances. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations relying on MaraDNS for authoritative name services, as it can be exploited to create targeted denial of service conditions against specific domains or entire DNS zones.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected MaraDNS installations to versions 1.0.41, 1.2.12.08, or 1.3.07.04, which contain the necessary fixes for proper resource record rotation handling. Organizations should also implement network-level protections such as DNS packet filtering and rate limiting to reduce the impact of potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns in DNS query processing that may indicate exploitation attempts. From a defensive standpoint, implementing proper input validation and sanitization of DNS packets can help prevent similar issues in other DNS implementations. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1499 for "Network Denial of Service" and T1590 for "Reconnaissance," as it represents a fundamental weakness in network infrastructure that can be exploited to disrupt service availability. Security teams should also consider implementing redundant DNS services and proper failover mechanisms to minimize the impact of such vulnerabilities on overall network availability and service continuity.