---
id: CVE-2026-96888
title: >-
  Named may terminate unexpectedly when a redirect zone is used with strict
  QNAME minimization
summary: >-
  A BIND resolver that is configured with both a "redirect" zone and
  "qname-minimization strict" may abort with an assertion failure while
  processing the redirect.

  This issue affects BIND 9 versions 9.16.0 through 9.18.50, 9.20.0 through 9…
severity: high
cvss: 7.5
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'
cvssSource: cna
cwe:
  - CWE-476
  - CWE-617
vendor: ISC
product: BIND 9
affected:
  - bind_9 >= 9.16.0 <= 9.18.50
  - bind_9 >= 9.20.0 <= 9.20.29
  - bind_9 >= 9.21.0 <= 9.21.26
  - bind_9 >= 9.16.8-S1 <= 9.18.50-S1
  - bind_9 >= 9.20.9-S1 <= 9.20.29-S1
published: '2026-10-21'
updated: '2026-10-21'
sourceUpdated: '2026-10-21T12:46:17.594Z'
source: CVEORG
sourceUrl: 'https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-96888'
references:
  - url: 'https://kb.isc.org/docs/cve-2026-96888'
    label: CVE-2026-96888
  - url: 'https://downloads.isc.org/isc/bind9/9.20.30'
  - url: 'https://downloads.isc.org/isc/bind9/9.21.27'
tags:
  - cve.org
ingestedAt: '2026-10-21T12:48:53.574Z'
---

## Overview

A BIND resolver that is configured with both a "redirect" zone and "qname-minimization strict" may abort with an assertion failure while processing the redirect.
This issue affects BIND 9 versions 9.16.0 through 9.18.50, 9.20.0 through 9.20.29, 9.21.0 through 9.21.26, 9.16.8-S1 through 9.18.50-S1, and 9.20.9-S1 through 9.20.29-S1.

## Affected

- `bind_9 >= 9.16.0 <= 9.18.50`
- `bind_9 >= 9.20.0 <= 9.20.29`
- `bind_9 >= 9.21.0 <= 9.21.26`
- `bind_9 >= 9.16.8-S1 <= 9.18.50-S1`
- `bind_9 >= 9.20.9-S1 <= 9.20.29-S1`

## Remediation

Upgrade to the patched release most closely related to your current version of BIND 9: 9.20.30, 9.21.27, or 9.20.30-S1.

### Workarounds

No workarounds known.