How severe is CVE-2016-9778?

CVE-2016-9778 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.5, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity none, and availability high.

Is CVE-2016-9778 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 7% (93rd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2016-9778?

CVE-2016-9778 primarily affects Isc Bind. In total, 9 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2016-9778?

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-2016-9778 published?

CVE-2016-9778 was published on 2019-01-16 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2016-9778

CVE-2016-9778 is a high-severity vulnerability in Isc Bind with a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.5. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-388.

Key facts

Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 7.5)
CVSS v2: 4.3
EPSS exploit prediction: 7% (93rd percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-388
Affected product: Isc Bind
Published: 2019-01-16
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

An error in handling certain queries can cause an assertion failure when a server is using the nxdomain-redirect feature to cover a zone for which it is also providing authoritative service. A vulnerable server could be intentionally stopped by an attacker if it was using a configuration that met the criteria for the vulnerability and if the attacker could cause it to accept a query that possessed the required attributes. Please note: This vulnerability affects the "nxdomain-redirect" feature, which is one of two methods of handling NXDOMAIN redirection, and is only available in certain versions of BIND. Redirection using zones of type "redirect" is not affected by this vulnerability. Affects BIND 9.9.8-S1 -> 9.9.8-S3, 9.9.9-S1 -> 9.9.9-S6, 9.11.0-9.11.0-P1.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2016-9778?: An error in handling certain queries can cause an assertion failure when a server is using the nxdomain-redirect feature to cover a zone for which it is also providing authoritative service. A vulnerable server could be intentionally stopped by an attacker if it was using a configuration that met the criteria for the vulnerability and if the attacker could cause it to accept a query that possessed the required attributes. Please note: This vulnerability affects the "nxdomain-redirect" feature, which is one of two methods of handling NXDOMAIN redirection, and is only available in certain versions of BIND. Redirection using zones of type "redirect" is not affected by this vulnerability. Affects BIND 9.9.8-S1 -> 9.9.8-S3, 9.9.9-S1 -> 9.9.9-S6, 9.11.0-9.11.0-P1.
How severe is CVE-2016-9778?: CVE-2016-9778 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.5, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity none, and availability high.
Is CVE-2016-9778 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 7% (93rd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2016-9778?: CVE-2016-9778 primarily affects Isc Bind. In total, 9 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2016-9778?: 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-2016-9778 published?: CVE-2016-9778 was published on 2019-01-16 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (9)

cpe:2.3:a:isc:bind:9.9.8:s1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:isc:bind:9.9.8:s2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:isc:bind:9.9.8:s3:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:isc:bind:9.9.9:s1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:isc:bind:9.9.9:s6:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:isc:bind:9.11.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:isc:bind:9.11.0:p1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:netapp:data_ontap_edge:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:netapp:solidfire_element_os_management_node:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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.

All CVEs affecting Isc Bind →

Other CWE-388 vulnerabilities

CVE-2018-1002105 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): In all Kubernetes versions prior to v1.10.11, v1.11.5, and v1.12.3, incorrect handling of error responses to proxied…
CVE-2017-5401 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): A crash triggerable by web content in which an "ErrorResult" references unassigned memory due to a logic error. The…
CVE-2016-10466 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): In Android before 2018-04-05 or earlier security patch level on Qualcomm Snapdragon Mobile and Snapdragon Wear MDM9206,…
CVE-2016-10414 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): In Android before 2018-04-05 or earlier security patch level on Qualcomm Small Cell SoC, Snapdragon Automobile,…
CVE-2015-9120 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): In Android before 2018-04-05 or earlier security patch level on Qualcomm Snapdragon Automobile, Snapdragon Mobile, and…
CVE-2014-9985 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): In Android before 2018-04-05 or earlier security patch level on Qualcomm Snapdragon Mobile MDM9635M, SD 400, and SD…

Browse all CWE-388 vulnerabilities →