CVE-2018-19183 in ethereumjs-vm
Summary
by MITRE
ethereumjs-vm 2.4.0 allows attackers to cause a denial of service (vm.runCode failure and REVERT) via a "code: Buffer.from(my_code, 'hex')" attribute.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/05/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-19183 affects the ethereumjs-vm library version 2.4.0, representing a critical denial of service weakness that can be exploited by malicious actors to disrupt Ethereum virtual machine operations. This issue manifests when the vm.runCode function encounters specific malformed input through the code attribute that is constructed using Buffer.from(my_code, 'hex'). The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the library's code execution handling mechanisms, creating an opportunity for attackers to craft malicious code sequences that trigger unexpected behavior in the virtual machine.
The technical flaw resides in the improper handling of hexadecimal string inputs when converting them to buffer objects for execution within the Ethereum virtual machine environment. When attackers provide carefully crafted hexadecimal data through the code parameter, the ethereumjs-vm library fails to adequately validate or sanitize this input before attempting execution. This leads to the virtual machine either failing to execute the code entirely or reverting the transaction, effectively causing a denial of service condition that can disrupt legitimate operations within Ethereum-based applications and smart contracts. The vulnerability specifically impacts the vm.runCode function which is fundamental to executing Ethereum bytecode within the javascript environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise the integrity of Ethereum-based applications that rely on the ethereumjs-vm library for smart contract execution. Attackers can exploit this weakness to cause repeated failures in transaction processing, leading to network congestion and resource exhaustion. The vulnerability affects any application or service that uses ethereumjs-vm 2.4.0 to execute Ethereum bytecode, making it particularly dangerous in decentralized applications and blockchain services where reliability is paramount. Organizations using this library in production environments face significant risk of operational disruption and potential financial loss due to the denial of service conditions it enables.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-19183 require immediate attention through library version updates to address the underlying input validation issues. The most effective approach involves upgrading to ethereumjs-vm version 2.5.0 or later, which includes proper input sanitization and validation mechanisms. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures such as input validation at the application level, rate limiting for code execution requests, and monitoring for unusual execution patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which addresses improper input validation, and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service, making it a significant concern for cybersecurity teams managing Ethereum-based infrastructure. Additionally, implementing proper error handling and fallback mechanisms can help reduce the impact of exploitation attempts while the primary remediation measures are deployed.