# CVE-2016-9778: An error handling certain queries using the nxdomain-redirect feature could cause a REQUIRE assertion failure in db.c

> Attackers can cause a denial of service in BIND servers using the nxdomain-redirect feature by triggering an assertion failure with specific queries.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 16 Jan 2019
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-xf9m-fv8p-cjv5

## What is CVE-2016-9778?

CVE-2016-9778 is a high-severity denial of service vulnerability in Isc Bind, published on 16 Jan 2019. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

An error in handling certain queries can cause an assertion failure when a server is using the nxdomain-redirect feature to cover a zone for which it is also providing authoritative service. A vulnerable server could be intentionally stopped by an attacker if it was using a configuration that met the criteria for the vulnerability and if the attacker could cause it to accept a query that possessed the required attributes. Please note: This vulnerability affects the "nxdomain-redirect" feature, which is one of two methods of handling NXDOMAIN redirection, and is only available in certain versions of BIND. Redirection using zones of type "redirect" is not affected by this vulnerability. Affects BIND 9.9.8-S1 -> 9.9.8-S3, 9.9.9-S1 -> 9.9.9-S6, 9.11.0-9.11.0-P1.

Weakness: CWE-388

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-9778?

It affects 3 products.


Products: Isc Bind, Netapp Data Ontap Edge, Netapp Solidfire Element Os Management Node.

## How do I fix CVE-2016-9778?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2016-9778 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-9778 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Isc Bind

- [CVE-2008-0122](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-0122/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2001-0010](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2001-0010/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2001-0011](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2001-0011/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2001-0013](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2001-0013/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2000-1029](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2000-1029/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2016-9778 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2016-9778 is a high-severity denial of service vulnerability in Isc Bind, published on 16 Jan 2019. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-9778 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Isc Bind. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-9778/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-9778/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-9778
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-9778
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2016-9778

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-9778/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.