The read_config_file function in lib/hesiod.c in Hesiod 3.2.1 falls back to the ".athena.mit.edu" default domain when opening the configuration file fails, which allows remote attackers to gain root privileges by poisoning the DNS cache.
Severity
CVSS 3.0
9.8 critical
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS
6.8% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days; higher than 94% of CVEs (scores of 2026-10-31)