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F5 Networks BIG-IP : NLnet Labs Unbound vulnerability (K000163001)

🗓️ 24 Aug 2026 00:00:00Reported by TenableType 
nessus
 nessus
🔗 www.tenable.com👁 14 Views

Unbound NSEC3 hash calculation in DNSSEC validator causes DoS via negative cache lock on F5 BIG-IP.

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Refs
Code
#%NASL_MIN_LEVEL 80900
##
# (C) Tenable, Inc.
#
# The descriptive text and package checks in this plugin were
# extracted from F5 Networks BIG-IP Solution K000163001.
#
# @NOAGENT@
##

include('compat.inc');

if (description)
{
  script_id(339151);
  script_version("1.2");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_modification_date", value:"2026/08/31");

  script_cve_id("CVE-2026-42923");

  script_name(english:"F5 Networks BIG-IP : NLnet Labs Unbound vulnerability (K000163001)");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"synopsis", value:
"The remote device is missing a vendor-supplied security patch.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"description", value:
"The version of F5 Networks BIG-IP installed on the remote host is prior to tested version. It is, therefore, affected by
a vulnerability as referenced in the K000163001 advisory.

    NLnet Labs Unbound up to and including version 1.25.0 has a vulnerability in the DNSSEC validator where
    the code path to consult the negative cache for DS records does not take into account the limit on NSEC3
    hash calculations introduced in 1.19.1. This leads to degradation of service during the attack. An
    adversary that controls a DNSSEC signed zone can exploit this by signing NSEC3 records with acceptably
    high iterations for child delegations and querying a vulnerable Unbound. Unbound will keep performing the
    allowed hash calculations on the NSEC3 records and will not limit the work by the mitigation introduced in
    1.19.1. As a side effect, a global lock for the negative cache will be held for the duration of the
    hashing, blocking other threads that need to consult the negative cache. Coordinated attacks could raise
    the vulnerability to denial of service. Unbound 1.25.1 contains a patch with a fix to bound the vulnerable
    code path with the existing limit for NSEC3 hash calculations.(CVE-2026-42923)

Tenable has extracted the preceding description block directly from the F5 Networks BIG-IP security advisory.

Note that Nessus has not tested for this issue but has instead relied only on the application's self-reported version
number.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"https://my.f5.com/manage/s/article/K000163001");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value:
"The vendor has acknowledged the vulnerability, but no solution has been provided.
Refer to the vendor for remediation guidance.");
  script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:P");
  script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:U/RL:OF/RC:C");
  script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L");
  script_set_cvss3_temporal_vector("CVSS:3.0/E:U/RL:O/RC:C");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cvss4_vector", value:"CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cvss4_supplemental", value:"CVSS:4.0/U:Amber");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cvss4_threat_vector", value:"CVSS:4.0/E:U");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cvss_score_source", value:"CVE-2026-42923");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"No known exploits are available");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_available", value:"false");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2026/05/20");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2026/08/24");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"potential_vulnerability", value:"true");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/a:f5:big-ip_domain_name_system");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/a:f5:big-ip_global_traffic_manager");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/h:f5:big-ip");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"generated_plugin", value:"current");
  script_end_attributes();

  script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
  script_family(english:"F5 Networks Local Security Checks");

  script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2026 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");

  script_dependencies("f5_bigip_detect.nbin");
  script_require_keys("Host/local_checks_enabled", "Host/BIG-IP/hotfix", "Host/BIG-IP/modules", "Host/BIG-IP/version", "Settings/ParanoidReport");

  exit(0);
}


include('f5_func.inc');

if ( ! get_kb_item('Host/local_checks_enabled') ) audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_ENABLED);
var version = get_kb_item('Host/BIG-IP/version');
if ( ! version ) audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, 'F5 Networks BIG-IP');
if ( isnull(get_kb_item('Host/BIG-IP/hotfix')) ) audit(AUDIT_KB_MISSING, 'Host/BIG-IP/hotfix');
if ( ! get_kb_item('Host/BIG-IP/modules') ) audit(AUDIT_KB_MISSING, 'Host/BIG-IP/modules');

if (report_paranoia < 2) audit(AUDIT_PARANOID);

var sol = 'K000163001';
var vmatrix = {
  'DNS': {
    'affected': [
      '21.1.0','17.5.0-17.5.1','17.1.2-17.1.3'
    ],
  }
};

if (bigip_is_affected(vmatrix:vmatrix, sol:sol))
{
  var extra = NULL;
  if (report_verbosity > 0) extra = bigip_report_get();
  security_report_v4(
      port       : 0,
      severity   : SECURITY_WARNING,
      extra      : extra
  );
}
else
{
  var tested = bigip_get_tested_modules();
  var audit_extra = 'For BIG-IP module(s) ' + tested + ',';
  if (tested) audit(AUDIT_INST_VER_NOT_VULN, audit_extra, version);
  else audit(AUDIT_HOST_NOT, 'running the affected module DNS');
}

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31 Aug 2026 00:00Current
6.1Medium risk
Vulners AI Score6.1
CVSS 3.15.3
CVSS 46.9
EPSS0.00339
SSVC
14