CVE-2018-19154 in HTMLCOIN
Summary
by MITRE
HTMLCOIN through 2.12 (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.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/04/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-19154 represents a critical denial of service flaw within the HTMLCOIN cryptocurrency protocol version 2.12 and earlier. This vulnerability operates at the network level where malicious actors can exploit the blockchain's header and block validation mechanisms to overwhelm target nodes. The attack vector specifically targets the consensus protocol implementation, allowing adversaries to flood systems with malformed data that triggers excessive resource consumption. The vulnerability's severity stems from its ability to operate without requiring any staking participation, making it accessible to anyone with network access to the affected cryptocurrency network. This characteristic aligns with attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the 'Network Denial of Service' technique category, where adversaries leverage protocol weaknesses to exhaust system resources.
The technical flaw manifests in the insufficient validation of incoming block headers and transaction data within the HTMLCOIN client implementation. When nodes receive malformed or invalid blocks, the protocol fails to properly filter these inputs before processing them through the full validation pipeline. This design weakness creates a scenario where an attacker can craft specially formatted blocks that trigger resource-intensive validation routines without actually contributing to the legitimate blockchain state. The vulnerability operates by exploiting the protocol's trust model where nodes accept and process data from peers without sufficient input sanitization. The implementation follows a pattern consistent with CWE-400 vulnerability classification, specifically addressing 'Uncontrolled Resource Consumption' where malicious inputs cause excessive resource allocation and consumption. The attack requires minimal resources from the attacker's perspective while creating substantial load on the victim's system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass complete system resource exhaustion. Victim nodes can experience rapid depletion of both disk space and memory resources as the malicious blocks consume storage capacity and processing power. The attack's effectiveness lies in its ability to fill storage volumes with invalid data that cannot be discarded by normal protocol cleanup mechanisms, leading to permanent service degradation or complete node failure. Network-wide implications arise as compromised nodes may propagate the malformed blocks to other peers, creating cascading effects throughout the cryptocurrency network. The resource consumption patterns align with common DoS attack methodologies documented in cybersecurity literature, where attackers target protocol implementation weaknesses to exhaust system capabilities. This vulnerability particularly affects the network's resilience and can potentially compromise the overall blockchain's integrity if a sufficient number of nodes become compromised.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-19154 should focus on implementing robust input validation mechanisms within the blockchain client software. Network operators should deploy rate limiting and connection filtering to prevent excessive block data processing from single sources. The implementation of proper block header validation routines that can identify and reject malformed inputs before resource-intensive processing occurs represents the most effective immediate solution. System administrators should monitor resource consumption patterns and implement automated alerts when disk space or memory usage exceeds normal thresholds. The upgrade path to version 2.13 or later should be prioritized as it contains the necessary protocol fixes addressing the underlying validation weakness. Security monitoring solutions should be enhanced to detect anomalous block processing patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, network-level protections such as firewall rules and peer selection algorithms that prioritize trusted nodes can help reduce exposure to this vulnerability. The fix implementation should align with security best practices outlined in NIST SP 800-30 risk assessment guidelines, ensuring comprehensive coverage of potential attack vectors and resource exhaustion scenarios.