CVE-2019-13000 in Eclair
Summary
by MITRE
Eclair through 0.3 allows attackers to trigger loss of funds because of Incorrect Access Control. NOTE: README.md states "it is beta-quality software and don't put too much money in it."
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/27/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-13000 affects Eclair version 0.3 and represents a critical access control flaw that could result in complete financial loss for users. This issue stems from improper authorization mechanisms within the lightning network implementation, where attackers can manipulate the system to execute unauthorized transactions or operations that should be restricted to legitimate users. The vulnerability exists in the core transaction processing logic where access controls are not properly enforced, creating opportunities for malicious actors to exploit the system's trust model. The security implications are particularly severe given that Eclair is a lightning network implementation designed for cryptocurrency transactions where financial assets are at stake.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which describes improper access control mechanisms in software systems. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly validate user permissions or authentication status before executing critical operations such as fund transfers, channel management, or transaction processing. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting specific requests or manipulating the application state to bypass normal access restrictions. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the protocol level where transaction integrity and user authorization are paramount. The implementation appears to rely on insufficient validation checks that should normally prevent unauthorized access to sensitive financial operations.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates a severe risk for any user or organization relying on Eclair version 0.3 for cryptocurrency transactions. The potential for fund loss is immediate and irreversible once exploited, as the flaw allows attackers to manipulate the system's financial state without proper authorization. The risk is amplified by the fact that this vulnerability exists in a beta-quality software release, indicating that the developers were aware of potential stability and security issues. The impact extends beyond individual users to potentially affect the broader lightning network ecosystem, as compromised nodes could serve as entry points for wider attacks. The vulnerability also represents a significant degradation of user trust in the platform's security measures.
The mitigation strategy for this vulnerability requires immediate attention from users and developers alike. Organizations should immediately upgrade to a patched version of Eclair if available, or implement additional security controls such as network segmentation and transaction monitoring to detect unauthorized activities. The implementation of proper access control mechanisms should include comprehensive authentication checks, authorization validation, and transaction logging to prevent unauthorized fund transfers. Security professionals should consider implementing network-level controls to monitor for suspicious transaction patterns and establish incident response procedures to quickly address potential exploitation. Given the nature of the vulnerability, the ATT&CK framework would categorize this under privilege escalation techniques where attackers leverage access control flaws to gain unauthorized system access. The recommended approach involves comprehensive code review and security testing to ensure proper implementation of access control mechanisms throughout the application.