CVE-2026-33811 - When using LookupCNAME with the cgo DNS resolver, a very long CNAME response can trigger a double-free of C me
CVE-2026-33811 + When using LookupCNAME with the cgo DNS resolver, a very long CNAME response can trigger a double-free of C me + High + 2026-05-07
One-sentence business risk
A small malicious input can exhaust workers or crash services, creating a customer-visible availability incident.
Research notes
- Root cause: When using LookupCNAME with the cgo DNS resolver, a very long CNAME response can trigger a double-free of C memory and a crash.
- Affected versions: Affected versions named by the upstream advisory and dependency metadata.
- Fixed / safe versions: Vendor-fixed release or mitigation named by the upstream advisory.
- Public exploit / PoC signal: the consulted NVD/GHSA/vendor sources describe the trigger class; treat it as reproducible until patched.
- CVSS: 7.5 CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H.
Exact vulnerable code pattern
parse_or_buffer(untrusted_payload) # unbounded size, time, or concurrency
Fixed / mitigated code pattern
enforce max bytes, frame counts, parser depth, request timeouts, and worker limits
Dependency or runtime update:
go list -m all | grep -i affected component || true
go get affected component@latest
go mod tidy
go test ./...
Step-by-step integration guide
- Inventory
affected componentacross source, lockfiles, SBOMs, container images, CI images, and deployment manifests. - Upgrade to
Vendor-fixed release or mitigation named by the upstream advisoryor apply the exact vendor patch referenced below. - Replace the vulnerable
dospattern with the fixed pattern and fail closed on malformed input. - Add a regression test that exercises the advisory trigger and proves the request is rejected, bounded, or authorized.
- Deploy through canary, monitor security logs and resource metrics, then remove temporary edge blocks only after all runtimes are fixed.
Alternative mitigations
- Disable the vulnerable feature path while the package/runtime update rolls out.
- Add WAF or reverse-proxy rules for traversal tokens, prototype-polluting keys, oversized frames, shell metacharacters, or unauthenticated tool calls matching the trigger class.
- Restrict internal egress, rotate exposed secrets, and revoke affected tokens/keys if the vulnerability can disclose config, logs, JWT secrets, proxy credentials, or PKI material.
- For admin/API authorization issues, temporarily require elevated roles and explicit ownership checks at the gateway.
Detection signature
id: cve-2026-33811-when-using-lookupcname-with-the-cgo-dns-resolver
source: NVD
dependency_or_product: "affected component"
affected: "Affected versions named by the upstream advisory and dependency metadata"
fixed: "Vendor-fixed release or mitigation named by the upstream advisory"
signals:
- "dos"
- "../"
- "__proto__"
- "tools/call"
- "wp_ajax_nopriv"
- "pickle.loads"
- "shell command construction"
action: "upgrade, add regression test, and verify deploy artifact"
Copy-paste skill
You are remediating CVE-2026-33811 (When using LookupCNAME with the cgo DNS resolver, a very long CNAME response can trigger a double-free of C me) in this repository.
Find every affected dependency, runtime, image, service configuration, and reachable code path. Upgrade or patch to Vendor-fixed release or mitigation named by the upstream advisory. Replace the vulnerable dos pattern with a fail-closed implementation, add a regression test for the trigger shape, and update deployment/SBOM artifacts. If this repository does not control the affected runtime, create TRIAGE.md naming the owner, affected version, fixed version, and blocking decision.
Keywords, affected tech stack, and revenue tags
- Keywords:
CVE-2026-33811,dos,affected component,NVD. - Affected tech stack:
go. - Revenue tags:
sellable_to_fintech,enterprise_blocker,high_priority_sla.
References
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:23262
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:23264
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:33120
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:33123
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:33142
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:33150
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-33811
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2467822
- https://go.dev/cl/767860
- https://go.dev/issue/78803
- https://groups.google.com/g/golang-announce/c/qcCIEXso47M
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-33811
- https://pkg.go.dev/vuln/GO-2026-4981
- https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-33811.json