8.5
HIGH
CVSS 4.0
CVE-2025-12198
dnsmasq Config File util.c parse_hex heap-based overflow
Description
Rejected reason: ** REJECT ** DO NOT USE THIS CANDIDATE NUMBER. ConsultIDs: none. Reason: This candidate was withdrawn by its CNA. Further investigation showed that it was not a security issue. Notes: Based on the analysis by MITRE and review of community feedback, the reported conditions represent expected and intentional behavior within dnsmasq's documented design, rather than security vulnerabilities.
INFO
Published Date :
Oct. 27, 2025, 1:15 a.m.
Last Modified :
Nov. 3, 2025, 11:17 p.m.
Remotely Exploit :
No
Source :
[email protected]
CVSS Scores
The Common Vulnerability Scoring System is a standardized framework
for assessing the severity of vulnerabilities in software and systems.
We collect and displays CVSS scores from various sources for each CVE.
| Score | Version | Severity | Vector | Exploitability Score | Impact Score | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 2.0 | MEDIUM | [email protected] | ||||
| CVSS 3.1 | HIGH | [email protected] | ||||
| CVSS 3.1 | MEDIUM | 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0 | ||||
| CVSS 4.0 | HIGH | [email protected] |
Solution
Update dnsmasq to a version later than 2.73rc6 to fix heap-based buffer overflow.
- Update dnsmasq to a version later than 2.73rc6.
- Apply vendor patches if available.
- Restrict local access to the affected system.
We scan GitHub repositories to detect new proof-of-concept exploits. Following list is a collection of public exploits and proof-of-concepts, which have been published on GitHub (sorted by the most recently updated).
Results are limited to the first 15 repositories due to potential performance issues.
The following list is the news that have been mention
CVE-2025-12198 vulnerability anywhere in the article.
The following table lists the changes that have been made to the
CVE-2025-12198 vulnerability over time.
Vulnerability history details can be useful for understanding the evolution of a vulnerability, and for identifying the most recent changes that may impact the vulnerability's severity, exploitability, or other characteristics.
-
CVE Rejected by [email protected]
Nov. 03, 2025
Action Type Old Value New Value -
CVE Modified by [email protected]
Nov. 03, 2025
Action Type Old Value New Value Removed Tag VulDB: disputed Changed Description A vulnerability has been found in dnsmasq up to 2.73rc6. Affected is the function parse_hex of the file src/util.c of the component Config File Handler. The manipulation of the argument i leads to heap-based buffer overflow. Local access is required to approach this attack. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The real existence of this vulnerability is still doubted at the moment. This attack requires manipulating config files which might not be a realistic scenario in many cases. The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way. Rejected reason: ** REJECT ** DO NOT USE THIS CANDIDATE NUMBER. ConsultIDs: none. Reason: This candidate was withdrawn by its CNA. Further investigation showed that it was not a security issue. Notes: Based on the analysis by MITRE and review of community feedback, the reported conditions represent expected and intentional behavior within dnsmasq's documented design, rather than security vulnerabilities. Removed CVSS V4.0 VulDB: AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:P/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X Removed CVSS V3.1 VulDB: AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H Removed CVSS V3.1 CISA-ADP: AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H Removed CVSS V2 VulDB: (AV:L/AC:L/Au:S/C:C/I:C/A:C) Removed CWE VulDB: CWE-119 Removed CWE VulDB: CWE-122 Removed Reference VulDB: https://shimo.im/docs/1d3aMVMmNmiLjg3g/ Removed Reference VulDB: https://vuldb.com/?ctiid.329868 Removed Reference VulDB: https://vuldb.com/?id.329868 Removed Reference VulDB: https://vuldb.com/?submit.673138 Removed Reference CISA-ADP: https://lists.thekelleys.org.uk/pipermail/dnsmasq-discuss/2025q4/018337.html Removed Reference CISA-ADP: https://shimo.im/docs/1d3aMVMmNmiLjg3g Removed Reference CISA-ADP: https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2025/10/27/1 Removed Reference CVE: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45727137 Removed Reference CVE: https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2025/10/27/1 -
CVE Modified by [email protected]
Nov. 03, 2025
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Tag disputed Changed Description A vulnerability has been found in dnsmasq up to 2.73rc6. Affected is the function parse_hex of the file src/util.c of the component Config File Handler. The manipulation of the argument i leads to heap-based buffer overflow. Local access is required to approach this attack. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way. A vulnerability has been found in dnsmasq up to 2.73rc6. Affected is the function parse_hex of the file src/util.c of the component Config File Handler. The manipulation of the argument i leads to heap-based buffer overflow. Local access is required to approach this attack. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The real existence of this vulnerability is still doubted at the moment. This attack requires manipulating config files which might not be a realistic scenario in many cases. The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way. -
CVE Modified by 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0
Nov. 01, 2025
Action Type Old Value New Value Added CVSS V3.1 AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H Added Reference https://lists.thekelleys.org.uk/pipermail/dnsmasq-discuss/2025q4/018337.html Added Reference https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2025/10/27/1 -
CVE Modified by 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0
Oct. 28, 2025
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Reference https://shimo.im/docs/1d3aMVMmNmiLjg3g -
CVE Modified by af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
Oct. 28, 2025
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Reference https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45727137 -
CVE Modified by af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
Oct. 28, 2025
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Reference https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2025/10/27/1 -
New CVE Received by [email protected]
Oct. 27, 2025
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Description A vulnerability has been found in dnsmasq up to 2.73rc6. Affected is the function parse_hex of the file src/util.c of the component Config File Handler. The manipulation of the argument i leads to heap-based buffer overflow. Local access is required to approach this attack. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way. Added CVSS V4.0 AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:P/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X Added CVSS V3.1 AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H Added CVSS V2 (AV:L/AC:L/Au:S/C:C/I:C/A:C) Added CWE CWE-119 Added CWE CWE-122 Added Reference https://shimo.im/docs/1d3aMVMmNmiLjg3g/ Added Reference https://vuldb.com/?ctiid.329868 Added Reference https://vuldb.com/?id.329868 Added Reference https://vuldb.com/?submit.673138
EPSS is a daily estimate of the probability of exploitation activity
being observed over the next 30 days. Following chart shows the EPSS
score history of the vulnerability.
Vulnerability Scoring Details
Base CVSS Score: 8.5
Attack Vector
Attack Complexity
Attack Requirements
Privileges Required
User Interaction
VS Confidentiality
VS Integrity
VS Availability
SS Confidentiality
SS Integrity
SS Availability
Base CVSS Score: 7.8
Attack Vector
Attack Complexity
Privileges Required
User Interaction
Scope
Confidentiality Impact
Integrity Impact
Availability Impact
Base CVSS Score: 6.8
Access Vector
Access Complexity
Authentication
Confidentiality Impact
Integrity Impact
Availability Impact