CVE-2023-49441: dnsmasq 2.9 is vulnerable to Integer Overflow via forward_query.

This week

HIGH 7.5REMOTEDOWNGRADE

CVE-2023-49441 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.5) affecting dnsmasq. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

dnsmasq 2.9 is vulnerable to Integer Overflow via forward_query.

Why this priority

High severity
Public exploit reference
Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

No fix is published yet: follow the downgrade or mitigation steps.

Risk facts

CVSS score	7.5 (High)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	0.7% (top 49%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-190
Published	2024-06-06
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: thekelleys

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2024-06-06 22:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 06:36 UTCUpdated Record last modified

thekelleys dnsmasq DOWNGRADE

Affected: 2.9

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 2.9

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy dnsmasq || rpm -q dnsmasq || dnsmasq --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 2.9 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison dnsmasq sudo apt install dnsmasq=<VERSION_BEFORE_2.9> sudo apt-mark hold dnsmasq

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list dnsmasq sudo dnf downgrade dnsmasq-<VERSION_BEFORE_2.9> sudo dnf versionlock add dnsmasq

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2023-49441?

dnsmasq: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2023-49441 being exploited?

CVE-2023-49441 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2023-49441 affect?

CVE-2023-49441 affects dnsmasq. Severity is high (CVSS 7.5). dnsmasq 2.9 is vulnerable to Integer Overflow via forward_query.

How urgent is CVE-2023-49441?

Priority 49/100. High severity; Public exploit reference; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

Software pages

Dnsmasq vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

CVE-2026-12725 MEDIUM 5.9 UPGRADE MITIGATE A heap-based buffer overflow was found in dnsmasq
CVE-2026-12969 MEDIUM 5.3 MITIGATE UPGRADE An out-of-bounds read vulnerability exists in dnsmasq's find_soa() function in src/rfc1035.c
CVE-2023-28450 HIGH 7.5 UPGRADE An issue was discovered in Dnsmasq before 2.90
CVE-2022-0934 HIGH 7.5 UPGRADE MITIGATE A single-byte, non-arbitrary write/use-after-free flaw was found in dnsmasq
CVE-2021-45957 CRITICAL 9.8 DOWNGRADE Dnsmasq 2.86 has a heap-based buffer overflow in answer_request (called from FuzzAnswerTheRequest and fuzz_rfc

References

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