How severe is CVE-2024-25629?

CVE-2024-25629 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 4.4, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires high privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity none, and availability high.

Is CVE-2024-25629 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (27th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2024-25629?

CVE-2024-25629 primarily affects C-ares. In total, 4 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2024-25629?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.

Does CVE-2024-25629 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?

Yes. CVE-2024-25629 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2024-22949.

When was CVE-2024-25629 published?

CVE-2024-25629 was published on 2024-02-23 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2024-25629

CVE-2024-25629 is a medium-severity vulnerability in C-ares with a CVSS 3.x base score of 4.4. 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-125.

Key facts

Severity: Medium (CVSS 3.x base score 4.4)
EPSS exploit prediction: 0% (27th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
EU (EUVD) id: EUVD-2024-22949
Weakness: CWE-125
Affected product: C-ares
Published: 2024-02-23
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

c-ares is a C library for asynchronous DNS requests. `ares__read_line()` is used to parse local configuration files such as `/etc/resolv.conf`, `/etc/nsswitch.conf`, the `HOSTALIASES` file, and if using a c-ares version prior to 1.27.0, the `/etc/hosts` file. If any of these configuration files has an embedded `NULL` character as the first character in a new line, it can lead to attempting to read memory prior to the start of the given buffer which may result in a crash. This issue is fixed in c-ares 1.27.0. No known workarounds exist.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2024-25629?: c-ares is a C library for asynchronous DNS requests. `ares__read_line()` is used to parse local configuration files such as `/etc/resolv.conf`, `/etc/nsswitch.conf`, the `HOSTALIASES` file, and if using a c-ares version prior to 1.27.0, the `/etc/hosts` file. If any of these configuration files has an embedded `NULL` character as the first character in a new line, it can lead to attempting to read memory prior to the start of the given buffer which may result in a crash. This issue is fixed in c-ares 1.27.0. No known workarounds exist.
How severe is CVE-2024-25629?: CVE-2024-25629 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 4.4, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires high privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity none, and availability high.
Is CVE-2024-25629 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (27th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2024-25629?: CVE-2024-25629 primarily affects C-ares. In total, 4 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2024-25629?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
Does CVE-2024-25629 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?: Yes. CVE-2024-25629 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2024-22949.
When was CVE-2024-25629 published?: CVE-2024-25629 was published on 2024-02-23 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (4)

cpe:2.3:a:c-ares:c-ares:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:38:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:39:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:40:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

More vulnerabilities in C-ares

CVE-2016-5180 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): Heap-based buffer overflow in the ares_create_query function in c-ares 1.x before 1.12.0 allows remote attackers to…
CVE-2017-1000381 — High (CVSS 7.5): The c-ares function `ares_parse_naptr_reply()`, which is used for parsing NAPTR responses, could be triggered to read…
CVE-2025-62408 — Medium (CVSS 5.9): c-ares is an asynchronous resolver library. Versions 1.32.3 through 1.34.5 terminate a query after maximum attempts…
CVE-2020-22217 — Medium (CVSS 5.9): Buffer overflow vulnerability in c-ares before 1_16_1 thru 1_17_0 via function ares_parse_soa_reply in…
CVE-2020-14354 — Low (CVSS 3.3): A possible use-after-free and double-free in c-ares lib version 1.16.0 if ares_destroy() is called prior to…

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Other CWE-125 (Out-of-bounds Read) vulnerabilities

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CVE-2021-41556 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): sqclass.cpp in Squirrel through 2.2.5 and 3.x through 3.1 allows an out-of-bounds read (in the core interpreter) that…
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CVE-2017-14451 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): An exploitable out-of-bounds read vulnerability exists in libevm (Ethereum Virtual Machine) of CPP-Ethereum. A…
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