PowerDNS Recursor up to 5.4.x infinite loop

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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Current Exploit Price (≈)
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CTI Interest Score
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7.0$0-$5k2.68-

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in PowerDNS Recursor up to 5.4.x. It has been rated as critical. The affected element is an unknown function. The manipulation leads to infinite loop. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2026-52684. The attack is possible to be carried out remotely. No exploit exists.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in PowerDNS Recursor up to 5.4.x and classified as critical. This issue affects an unknown function. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a infinite loop vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-835. The product contains an iteration or loop with an exit condition that cannot be reached, i.e., an infinite loop. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

If the auth responds very slowly and the records expire in between, the capping of TTLs is not enforced for lack of data. This does not happen on regular resolve as then then the child records are used immediately if not expired and thus valid, or the records are expired, and in that case not used. So this case can only happen if almost expired records are used to refresh the authoritative NS records.

It is possible to read the advisory at github.com. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2026-52684 since 06/08/2026. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack may be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is needed for a successful exploitation. The technical details are unknown and an exploit is not publicly available. The attack technique deployed by this issue is T1499 according to MITRE ATT&CK.

Upgrading to version 5.5.0 eliminates this vulnerability.

Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

Vendor

Name

Version

License

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 7.3
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.0

VulDB Base Score: 7.3
VulDB Temp Score: 7.0
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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

Exploitinginfo

Class: Infinite loop
CWE: CWE-835 / CWE-404
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Recursor 5.5.0

Timelineinfo

06/08/2026 CVE reserved
07/23/2026 +45 days Advisory disclosed
07/23/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
07/23/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Advisory: github.com
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-52684 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-52684
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-382487

Entryinfo

Created: 07/23/2026 10:41
Changes: 07/23/2026 10:41 (54)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

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