Use After Free in C-ares

CVE-2025-31498

c-ares is an asynchronous resolver library. From 1.32.3 through 1.34.4, there is a use-after-free in read_answers() when process_answer() may re-enqueue a query either due to a DNS Cookie Failure or when the upstream server does not proper…

Vulnerability class: Use-After-Free

EPSS: 0.006 (42.1th percentile) — read the EPSS interpretation.

Affected products

  • C-ares — versions >= 1.32.3, < 1.34.5

Weakness classification (CWE)

Public proof-of-concept exploits

References

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2025-31498?
CVE-2025-31498 is a vulnerability in C-ares, classified under Use After Free. Published 2025-04-08.
Is CVE-2025-31498 known to be exploited?
4 public proof-of-concept repositories are indexed. Not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.