CVE-2026-85501Retrap: Novel Vulnerabilities to launch Algorithmic Complexity Attacks on DNSSEC
Updated under an hour ago ()
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It affects NLnet Labs Unbound and 1 other product. Add what you run to find out whether that includes you.
No exploitation reported and no EPSS estimate yet.
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Novel vulnerabilities to launch algorithmic complexity attacks on DNSSEC have been researched under the term 'ReTrap'. These result in degradation of service when malicious zones are used to serve the algorithmic complexity vulnerabilities. NLnet Labs Unbound up to and including 1.26.0 is vulnerable to some of them. TagTrap, where the triple(Zone, Algo, KeyTag) matching mechanism introduces a significant attack vector when resolvers handle malicious responses containing numerous mismatched DNSKEY, RRSIG, and DS record. DelegationTrap, where constructing the chain-of-trust requires iterative validation of DNSKEY and DS records from the root zone downward. For deeply nested domains, this results in significant computational overhead. NsecTrap, where responses with excessive invalid NSEC records compel the resolver to validate each one. AdditionalTrap, where Unbound by default would try to DNSSEC validate the ADDITIONAL section as well. This can be exploited to waste validation resources by malicious users.
- CVSS
- 5.3 MEDIUM (v3.1, CNA)CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L
- Weakness (CWE)
- CWE-770
- Known exploited
- Not in CISA's KEV catalog
- EPSS (exploitation in the next 30 days)
- Not loaded for this CVE
- Assigned by
- NLnet Labs
- NVD analysis
- Analyzed
- Record last updated
- Sep 16, 2026
- First seen by InfoSec Signals
- Oct 9, 2026
Affected products
NLnet Labs Unbound nlnet_labs:unbound (from the name) | before 1.26.1 | CNA record |
nlnetlabs unbound nlnetlabs:unbound | before 1.26.1 | NVD |
References
- https://www.nlnetlabs.nl/downloads/unbound/CVE-2026-85501.txtvendor-advisory, patch
The CVE record on cve.org NVD's entry
The CVE record is authoritative. Products marked “from the name” were identified from the CNA's free-text names, not a CPE, and are matched less certainly. This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD.