CVE-2012-3817

CVE-2012-3817 is a high-severity vulnerability in Isc Bind with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 7.8. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score of 27% places it in the 98th percentile, indicating an elevated likelihood of exploitation. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-20.

Key facts

• Severity: High (CVSS 2.0 base score 7.8)
• EPSS exploit prediction: 27% (98th percentile)
• Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
• Weakness: CWE-20
• Affected product: Isc Bind
• Published: 2012-07-25
• Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

ISC BIND 9.4.x, 9.5.x, 9.6.x, and 9.7.x before 9.7.6-P2; 9.8.x before 9.8.3-P2; 9.9.x before 9.9.1-P2; and 9.6-ESV before 9.6-ESV-R7-P2, when DNSSEC validation is enabled, does not properly initialize the failing-query cache, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (assertion failure and daemon exit) by sending many queries.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2012-3817?

ISC BIND 9.4.x, 9.5.x, 9.6.x, and 9.7.x before 9.7.6-P2; 9.8.x before 9.8.3-P2; 9.9.x before 9.9.1-P2; and 9.6-ESV before 9.6-ESV-R7-P2, when DNSSEC validation is enabled, does not properly initialize the failing-query cache, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (assertion failure and daemon exit) by sending many queries.

How severe is CVE-2012-3817?

CVE-2012-3817 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 7.8, rated high severity.

Is CVE-2012-3817 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 27% (98th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2012-3817?

CVE-2012-3817 primarily affects Isc Bind. In total, 94 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2012-3817?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2012-3817 published?

CVE-2012-3817 was published on 2012-07-25 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

• http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2013/Sep/msg00002.html
• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2012-08/msg00013.html
• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2012-08/msg00015.html
• http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2012-1122.html
• http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2012-1123.html
• http://secunia.com/advisories/51096
• http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5880
• http://www.debian.org/security/2012/dsa-2517
• http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1027296
• http://www.slackware.com/security/viewer.php?l=slackware-security&y=2012&m=slackware-security.536004
• http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-1518-1
• https://kb.isc.org/article/AA-00729

Affected products (94)

• cpe:2.3:a:isc:bind:9.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:isc:bind:9.4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:isc:bind:9.4.0:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:isc:bind:9.4.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:isc:bind:9.4.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:isc:bind:9.4.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:isc:bind:9.4.3:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:isc:bind:9.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:isc:bind:9.5.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:isc:bind:9.5.0:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:isc:bind:9.5.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:isc:bind:9.5.1:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:isc:bind:9.5.1:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:isc:bind:9.5.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:isc:bind:9.5.2:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:isc:bind:9.5.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:isc:bind:9.5.3:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:isc:bind:9.6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:isc:bind:9.6.0:p1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:isc:bind:9.6.0:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:isc:bind:9.6.0:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:isc:bind:9.6.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:isc:bind:9.6.1:p1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:isc:bind:9.6.1:p2:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:isc:bind:9.6.1:p3:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:isc:bind:9.6.1:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:isc:bind:9.6.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:isc:bind:9.6.2:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:isc:bind:9.6.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:isc:bind:9.6.3:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:isc:bind:9.7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:isc:bind:9.7.0:p1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:isc:bind:9.7.0:p2:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:isc:bind:9.7.0:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:isc:bind:9.7.0:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:isc:bind:9.7.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:isc:bind:9.7.1:p1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:isc:bind:9.7.1:p2:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:isc:bind:9.7.1:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:isc:bind:9.7.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

More vulnerabilities in Isc Bind

• CVE-2008-0122 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Off-by-one error in the inet_network function in libbind in ISC BIND 9.4.2 and earlier, as used in libc in FreeBSD 6.2…
• CVE-2001-0011 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Buffer overflow in nslookupComplain function in BIND 4 allows remote attackers to gain root privileges.
• CVE-2001-0013 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Format string vulnerability in nslookupComplain function in BIND 4 allows remote attackers to gain root privileges.
• CVE-2001-0010 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Buffer overflow in transaction signature (TSIG) handling code in BIND 8 allows remote attackers to gain root privileges.
• CVE-2000-1029 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Buffer overflow in host command allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary commands via a long response to an AXFR…
• CVE-1999-0837 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Denial of service in BIND by improperly closing TCP sessions via so_linger.

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