CVE-2018-19153 in particl
Summary
by MITRE
particl through 0.17 (a chain-based proof-of-stake cryptocurrency) allows a remote denial of service. The attacker sends invalid headers/blocks. The attack requires no stake and can fill the victim's disk and RAM.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/04/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-19153 represents a critical denial of service weakness within the particl cryptocurrency network version 0.17 and earlier. This flaw operates at the network protocol level where malicious actors can exploit the system's failure to properly validate incoming block headers and transactions. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms that permit malformed or invalid network data to be processed by participating nodes, leading to resource exhaustion and system instability.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the proof-of-stake consensus mechanism by leveraging the network's trust model to flood nodes with maliciously crafted data. Attackers can send invalid headers and blocks that appear legitimate to the network protocol but contain malformed data structures or invalid transaction sequences. These invalid elements trigger the node's processing routines to consume excessive computational resources and memory allocation, ultimately leading to system resource exhaustion. The attack vector specifically targets the node's ability to validate and store blockchain data, causing cascading failures in network propagation and validation processes.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-19153 extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass complete network instability and potential system crashes. Victim nodes experience rapid consumption of available disk space as invalid blocks accumulate in the local database, while memory resources become saturated through repeated processing attempts of malformed data structures. This resource exhaustion affects not only individual nodes but can propagate throughout the network, creating widespread disruption to the cryptocurrency's operational integrity. The vulnerability's severity is amplified by its accessibility, requiring no stake or privileged access to execute the attack, making it particularly dangerous for network participants who cannot easily defend against such resource depletion attacks.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-400, which addresses "Uncontrolled Resource Consumption," and demonstrates characteristics consistent with the ATT&CK technique T1499.001 for "Network Denial of Service." The attack pattern reflects a classic resource exhaustion exploit where the malicious input is designed to trigger excessive processing or storage requirements. Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing robust input validation at the network protocol level, establishing rate limiting mechanisms for block header processing, and deploying automated monitoring systems to detect unusual resource consumption patterns. Additionally, network participants should implement proper data sanitization routines and consider upgrading to patched versions of the particl software that include enhanced validation routines and resource management controls to prevent such attacks from compromising system integrity.