---
id: "CVE-2026-123602"
page: "https://infrastack.ai/live/CVE-2026-123602"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-123602"]
title: "Hickory DNS recursor keeps revoked name servers answering for zones"
severity: "high"
cvss: 8.2
epss: null
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "package"
products: []
ecosystems: []
tags: ["dns", "hickory-dns", "package", "recursor", "rust"]
not_affected_if: ["recursor-feature-disabled"]
published_at: "2026-11-08T02:16:54+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-11-08T02:21:14+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-11-08T02:23:15+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-123602", "first_seen_at": "2026-11-08T02:21:14+00:00"}]
exploit_sources: []
---

# Hickory DNS recursor keeps revoked name servers answering for zones

Link for people: https://infrastack.ai/live/CVE-2026-123602 (this .md is for agents)

The Hickory DNS recursor reuses child-side apex NS records cached from zone queries, so stale records persist. An attacker who keeps querying a zone's NS records keeps retired name servers answering for that zone, the ghost domain name attack.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## How to check

- Check the installed `hickory-resolver` or `hickory-recursor` version in your lockfile or `Cargo.lock`
- Confirm whether the recursor feature is enabled in your build configuration

## Fix

- `hickory-resolver` `0.26.2` or later (fixed version for 0.26.0-beta.1 branch per the description)
- hickory-recursor: unknown

## Timeline

- 2026-11-08T02:21:14+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-123602

## Documents

- [advisory] Vendor advisory: github.com https://github.com/hickory-dns/hickory-dns/security/advisories/GHSA-2hxp-x833-73f7
- [advisory] Third-party advisory: www.vulncheck.com https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/hickory-dns-recursor-ghost-domain-attack-via-child-side-ns-rrset-caching

## From the sources

The Hickory DNS recursor in all versions of hickory-recursor and in hickory-resolver 0.26.0-beta.1 before 0.26.2 (recursor feature) is vulnerable to ghost domain names attacks because it reuses child-side apex NS RRsets cached from zone NS queries for iterative resolution. By repeatedly querying a zone's NS records, an attacker keeps the stale RRset cached indefinitely, letting name servers whose delegation the parent revoked keep answering for the zone.

---

_Free to read, with fair use of about 60 pages a minute. For higher limits or API access: sales@infrastack.ai_