CVE-2011-4313 in BIND
Summary
by MITRE
query.c in ISC BIND 9.0.x through 9.6.x, 9.4-ESV through 9.4-ESV-R5, 9.6-ESV through 9.6-ESV-R5, 9.7.0 through 9.7.4, 9.8.0 through 9.8.1, and 9.9.0a1 through 9.9.0b1 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (assertion failure and named exit) via unknown vectors related to recursive DNS queries, error logging, and the caching of an invalid record by the resolver.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/23/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-4313 represents a critical denial of service weakness within the Internet Systems Consortium BIND DNS server software. This flaw affects multiple versions spanning from 9.0.x through 9.6.x, along with specific ESV releases and various 9.7.x, 9.8.x, and 9.9.x versions. The vulnerability manifests through recursive DNS query processing and involves assertion failures that ultimately cause the named daemon to terminate unexpectedly, creating a significant availability risk for DNS services.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves complex interactions within the DNS resolver's handling of recursive queries and error logging mechanisms. When processing certain malformed or crafted DNS responses, the system encounters conditions that trigger internal assertion checks, which are designed to catch programming errors during development. However, in production environments, these assertions can be triggered by malicious input, causing the named process to exit abruptly rather than gracefully handling the error condition. The caching of invalid records by the resolver component further compounds this issue, as it can lead to cascading failures when the system attempts to process previously cached malformed data.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-4313 extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can affect entire DNS infrastructure dependencies. Network administrators face the challenge of maintaining DNS availability when attackers can exploit this vulnerability to force service restarts, potentially leading to temporary loss of domain resolution capabilities. The vulnerability's broad scope across multiple version ranges means that organizations with older or unpatched BIND installations remain at risk, particularly those that have not implemented proper update schedules or security monitoring.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-119, which addresses weaknesses in memory access and assertion handling within software systems. The flaw demonstrates characteristics consistent with improper error handling patterns where assertion failures are not properly managed in production environments. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which involves network denial of service attacks that target DNS infrastructure. The attack vector requires remote exploitation without authentication, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible DNS servers that handle recursive queries from unknown sources.
Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected BIND versions to address this vulnerability, as the exploitation can result in sustained service disruption. Additional mitigations include implementing proper access controls to limit recursive query access, deploying monitoring solutions to detect unusual named process termination patterns, and establishing robust incident response procedures for DNS service availability. Network segmentation strategies can also help limit the impact of exploitation by restricting which systems can initiate recursive queries against vulnerable DNS servers. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining current DNS software versions and implementing comprehensive security monitoring for critical infrastructure components.