CVE-2026-62994
CoreDNS `k8s_external` headless AXFR can emit an empty transfer batch that panics the `transfer` plugin
Description
CoreDNS is a DNS server written in Go. From 1.9.4 until 1.14.5, a network DNS client allowed to request AXFR for a CoreDNS zone can trigger a panic when CoreDNS is configured with k8s_external headless-service zone transfers and Kubernetes contains a headless service endpoint with no declared ports; plugin/kubernetes/object/endpoint.go creates Port: -1, plugin/k8s_external/msg_to_dns.go skips that service, plugin/k8s_external/transfer.go sends an empty []dns.RR batch, and plugin/transfer/transfer.go indexes records[0] without checking the batch is non-empty. This issue is fixed in version 1.14.5.
INFO
Published Date :
July 16, 2026, 8:16 p.m.
Last Modified :
July 22, 2026, 8:14 p.m.
Remotely Exploit :
Yes !
Source :
[email protected]
CVSS Scores
| Score | Version | Severity | Vector | Exploitability Score | Impact Score | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS | 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0 | |||||
| CVSS 3.1 | LOW | [email protected] |
Solution
- Update CoreDNS to version 1.14.5.
- Ensure Kubernetes services have declared ports.
- Avoid configuring k8s_external headless-service zones.
References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools
Here, you will find a curated list of external links that provide in-depth
information, practical solutions, and valuable tools related to
CVE-2026-62994.
| URL | Resource |
|---|---|
| https://github.com/coredns/coredns/commit/ab318db7b4a3a19273852ed627f54888198c8efb | Patch |
| https://github.com/coredns/coredns/pull/8207 | Issue Tracking Patch |
| https://github.com/coredns/coredns/releases/tag/v1.14.5 | Release Notes |
| https://github.com/coredns/coredns/security/advisories/GHSA-74w3-63xv-x9mv | Exploit Third Party Advisory |
| https://github.com/coredns/coredns/security/advisories/GHSA-74w3-63xv-x9mv | Exploit Third Party Advisory |
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration
While CVE identifies
specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or
weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2026-62994 is
associated with the following CWEs:
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification
(CAPEC)
stores attack patterns, which are descriptions of the common attributes and
approaches employed by adversaries to exploit the CVE-2026-62994
weaknesses.
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-2026-62994 vulnerability anywhere in the article.
The following table lists the changes that have been made to the
CVE-2026-62994 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.
-
Initial Analysis by [email protected]
Jul. 22, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added CPE Configuration OR *cpe:2.3:a:coredns.io:coredns:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 1.9.4 up to (excluding) 1.14.5 Added Reference Type GitHub, Inc.: https://github.com/coredns/coredns/commit/ab318db7b4a3a19273852ed627f54888198c8efb Types: Patch Added Reference Type GitHub, Inc.: https://github.com/coredns/coredns/pull/8207 Types: Issue Tracking, Patch Added Reference Type GitHub, Inc.: https://github.com/coredns/coredns/releases/tag/v1.14.5 Types: Release Notes Added Reference Type GitHub, Inc.: https://github.com/coredns/coredns/security/advisories/GHSA-74w3-63xv-x9mv Types: Exploit, Third Party Advisory Added Reference Type CISA-ADP: https://github.com/coredns/coredns/security/advisories/GHSA-74w3-63xv-x9mv Types: Exploit, Third Party Advisory -
CVE Modified by 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0
Jul. 17, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Reference https://github.com/coredns/coredns/security/advisories/GHSA-74w3-63xv-x9mv Added SSVC {'id': 'CVE-2026-62994', 'role': 'CISA Coordinator', 'options': [{'exploitation': 'poc'}, {'automatable': 'no'}, {'technicalImpact': 'partial'}], 'version': '2.0.3', 'timestamp': '2026-07-17T11:12:32.909197Z'} -
New CVE Received by [email protected]
Jul. 16, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Affected [{'vendor': 'coredns', 'product': 'coredns', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': '>= 1.9.4, < 1.14.5'}]}] Added Description CoreDNS is a DNS server written in Go. From 1.9.4 until 1.14.5, a network DNS client allowed to request AXFR for a CoreDNS zone can trigger a panic when CoreDNS is configured with k8s_external headless-service zone transfers and Kubernetes contains a headless service endpoint with no declared ports; plugin/kubernetes/object/endpoint.go creates Port: -1, plugin/k8s_external/msg_to_dns.go skips that service, plugin/k8s_external/transfer.go sends an empty []dns.RR batch, and plugin/transfer/transfer.go indexes records[0] without checking the batch is non-empty. This issue is fixed in version 1.14.5. Added CVSS V3.1 AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L Added CWE CWE-248 Added CWE CWE-755 Added Reference https://github.com/coredns/coredns/commit/ab318db7b4a3a19273852ed627f54888198c8efb Added Reference https://github.com/coredns/coredns/pull/8207 Added Reference https://github.com/coredns/coredns/releases/tag/v1.14.5 Added Reference https://github.com/coredns/coredns/security/advisories/GHSA-74w3-63xv-x9mv