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PatchSiren cyber security CVE debrief

CVE-2025-13878 ISC CVE debrief

CVE-2025-13878 is a HIGH severity vulnerability affecting BIND 9, a popular DNS server software. The vulnerability causes the `named` process to terminate unexpectedly when it encounters malformed BRID/HHIT records. This issue impacts multiple BIND 9 versions, including 9.18.40 through 9.18.43, 9.20.13 through 9.20.17, 9.21.12 through 9.21.16, and their corresponding S1 releases. The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 7.5 and is considered HIGH severity. To mitigate this vulnerability, users should update to patched versions of BIND 9 as soon as possible.

Vendor
ISC
Product
BIND 9
CVSS
HIGH 7.5
CISA KEV
Not listed in stored evidence
Original CVE published
2026-01-21
Original CVE updated
2026-09-01
Advisory published
2026-01-21
Advisory updated
2026-09-01

Who should care

System administrators and security teams responsible for managing DNS infrastructure, particularly those using BIND 9, should be aware of this vulnerability. Given the HIGH severity and potential for service disruption, immediate attention is recommended. Additionally, organizations relying on BIND 9 for their DNS services should prioritize patching to prevent potential exploitation.

Technical summary

The vulnerability is caused by malformed BRID/HHIT records that can cause the `named` process in BIND 9 to terminate unexpectedly. This issue affects several versions of BIND 9, including 9.18.40 through 9.18.43, 9.20.13 through 9.20.17, 9.21.12 through 9.21.16, and their S1 counterparts. The Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) score for this vulnerability is 7.5, indicating HIGH severity. The vulnerability is tracked under CVE-2025-13878.

Defensive priority

High priority should be given to patching affected BIND 9 installations to prevent service disruption. Administrators should review their current BIND 9 versions and update to patched versions (9.18.44, 9.20.18, 9.21.17, or later) as soon as possible.

Recommended defensive actions

  • Review current BIND 9 versions and identify affected installations.
  • Update affected BIND 9 installations to patched versions (9.18.44, 9.20.18, 9.21.17, or later).
  • Verify that DNS services are functioning correctly after patching.
  • Monitor DNS server logs for any unusual activity.
  • Consider implementing additional monitoring and security measures for DNS infrastructure.

Evidence notes

The CVE-2025-13878 vulnerability is documented in the official CVE record and the National Vulnerability Database (NVD). The Internet Systems Consortium (ISC) provides patches for affected BIND 9 versions. Additional information and references can be found in the source item URL and other listed references.

Sources and references

Verified primary and authoritative sources

  • CVE-2025-13878 CVE Program record

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-13878

    CVE Program - Official CVE Program record with source-provided CVE metadata.

  • CVE-2025-13878 NVD vulnerability detail

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-13878

    NIST National Vulnerability Database - Official NIST NVD detail page and source-specific vulnerability assessment.

Supplemental references

Methodology and review provenance

AI-assisted synthesis based on stored public vulnerability evidence. System validation, approval state, and publication status do not by themselves establish human review of this revision. PatchSiren helps prioritize defensive review and does not prove exposure or remediation on any system.