CVE-2025-5994
CWE-349Published: July 16, 2025· Updated: Jun 17, 2026
Official Description
A multi-vendor cache poisoning vulnerability named 'Rebirthday Attack' has been discovered in caching resolvers that support EDNS Client Subnet (ECS). Unbound is also vulnerable when compiled with ECS support, i.e., '--enable-subnet', AND configured to send ECS information along with queries to upstream name servers, i.e., at least one of the 'send-client-subnet', 'client-subnet-zone' or 'client-subnet-always-forward' options is used. Resolvers supporting ECS need to segregate outgoing queries to accommodate for different outgoing ECS information. This re-opens up resolvers to a birthday paradox attack (Rebirthday Attack) that tries to match the DNS transaction ID in order to cache non-ECS poisonous replies.
Technical Analysis
CVE-2025-5994 can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring physical or adjacent access, significantly expanding the attack surface for threat actors.
The vulnerability requires no privileges and no user interaction, making it a prime target for automated exploitation campaigns and worm-like propagation.
CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown
Exploit & PoC Resources
All References (2)
Quick Facts
Related CVEs (CWE-349)
Recommended Actions
- →Apply vendor patches immediately
- →Monitor CVE-2025-5994 in threat intel feeds
- →Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts