dnsmasq up to 2.73rc6 Config File src/network.c check_servers null pointer dereference ⚔ [Disputed]

CVSS Meta Temp Score
CVSS is a standardized scoring system to determine possibilities of attacks. The Temp Score considers temporal factors like disclosure, exploit and countermeasures. The unique Meta Score calculates the average score of different sources to provide a normalized scoring system.
Current Exploit Price (≈)
Our analysts are monitoring exploit markets and are in contact with vulnerability brokers. The range indicates the observed or calculated exploit price to be seen on exploit markets. A good indicator to understand the monetary effort required for and the popularity of an attack.
CTI Interest Score
Our Cyber Threat Intelligence team is monitoring different web sites, mailing lists, exploit markets and social media networks. The CTI Interest Score identifies the interest of attackers and the security community for this specific vulnerability in real-time. A high score indicates an elevated risk to be targeted for this vulnerability.
3.1$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, has been found in dnsmasq up to 2.73rc6. Affected by this issue is the function check_servers of the file src/network.c of the component Config File Handler. This manipulation causes null pointer dereference. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2025-12199. The attack can only be executed locally. Furthermore, there is an exploit available. The actual existence of this vulnerability is currently in question. Based on the analysis by MITRE and review of community feedback, the reported conditions represent expected and intentional behavior within dnsmasq's documented design, rather than security vulnerabilities. The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as problematic was found in dnsmasq up to 2.73rc6. Affected by this vulnerability is the function check_servers of the file src/network.c of the component Config File Handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a null pointer dereference vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-476. A NULL pointer dereference occurs when the application dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid, but is NULL, typically causing a crash or exit. As an impact it is known to affect availability.

The advisory is shared at shimo.im. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2025-12199. The exploitation appears to be easy. An attack has to be approached locally. Technical details and also a public exploit are known. In src/dnsmasq.c different exit codes are defined which are also explained in the man page. If dnsmasq is used within a tool-chain depending on these exit codes, even a simple crash might seriously break something that could have a security impact.

It is possible to download the exploit at shimo.im. It is declared as proof-of-concept. The real existence of this vulnerability is still doubted at the moment. The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way. Based on the analysis by MITRE and review of community feedback, the reported conditions represent expected and intentional behavior within dnsmasq's documented design, rather than security vulnerabilities. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 276818 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-12199 (deprecated)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

There is no information about possible countermeasures known. It may be suggested to replace the affected object with an alternative product.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (276818) and EUVD (EUVD-2025-36060). If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

Productinfo

Type

Name

Version

License

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CNA CVSS-B Score: 🔒
CNA CVSS-BT Score: 🔒
CNA Vector: 🔒

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 3.3
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 3.1

VulDB Base Score: 3.3
VulDB Temp Score: 3.0
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CNA Base Score: 3.3
CNA Vector: 🔒

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock

VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Null pointer dereference
CWE: CWE-476 / CWE-404
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: No

Availability: 🔒
Access: Public
Status: Proof-of-Concept
Download: 🔒
Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

0-DayUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
TodayUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock

Nessus ID: 276818
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-12199 (deprecated)

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: no mitigation known
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Timelineinfo

10/25/2025 Advisory disclosed
10/25/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
11/28/2025 +34 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Advisory: shimo.im
Status: Not defined
Disputed: 🔍

CVE: CVE-2025-12199 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-12199
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-329869
EUVD: 🔒
scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20161013

Entryinfo

Created: 10/25/2025 08:27
Updated: 11/28/2025 17:27
Changes: 10/25/2025 08:27 (57), 10/27/2025 04:57 (30), 10/28/2025 04:29 (1), 11/03/2025 19:16 (3), 11/03/2025 23:52 (1), 11/17/2025 17:38 (1), 11/28/2025 17:27 (2)
Complete: 🔍
Submitter: zh_vul
Cache ID: 216::103

Submitinfo

Accepted

If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

Discussion

No comments yet. Languages: en.

Please log in to comment.

◂ PreviousOverviewNext ▸

Want to stay up to date on a daily basis?

Enable the mail alert feature now!