CVE-2023-40591 in go-ethereum
Summary
by MITRE • 09/06/2023
go-ethereum (geth) is a golang execution layer implementation of the Ethereum protocol. A vulnerable node, can be made to consume unbounded amounts of memory when handling specially crafted p2p messages sent from an attacker node. The fix is included in geth version `1.12.1-stable`, i.e, `1.12.2-unstable` and onwards. Users are advised to upgrade. There are no known workarounds for this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/07/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-40591 represents a critical memory exhaustion flaw within the go-ethereum (geth) implementation that affects the Ethereum protocol's peer-to-peer networking layer. This vulnerability specifically targets the handling of crafted p2p messages that can trigger unbounded memory consumption on affected nodes, potentially leading to system instability and service disruption. The flaw exists in the protocol's message processing logic where specially constructed network packets can cause memory allocation to grow indefinitely without proper bounds checking or resource management controls.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation and resource management within the p2p message handling components of geth. When an attacker node sends maliciously crafted p2p messages to a vulnerable geth node, the receiving node processes these messages without adequate memory consumption limits, leading to continuous memory allocation until system resources are exhausted. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-400 category of Uncontrolled Resource Consumption, specifically classified as Unbounded Resource Consumption. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation and resource management practices within the Ethereum node's networking stack where the system fails to implement proper bounds checking on message processing operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple resource exhaustion to potentially compromise entire Ethereum network operations and node availability. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to perform denial-of-service attacks against specific nodes or network segments, causing nodes to become unresponsive or crash entirely. The memory exhaustion can affect not only individual nodes but also broader network stability, as compromised nodes may stop participating in network consensus mechanisms or fail to relay transactions and blocks properly. This vulnerability directly impacts the Ethereum network's resilience and availability, as it can be exploited to disrupt network operations without requiring extensive privileges or specialized equipment. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a Resource Exhaustion technique under the T1499.004 sub-technique, specifically targeting system resources through malicious network traffic.
Mitigation of this vulnerability requires immediate upgrading to geth version 1.12.1-stable or later, which includes the necessary patches to address the unbounded memory consumption issue. The fix implemented in these versions introduces proper bounds checking and resource management controls within the p2p message processing pipeline to prevent excessive memory allocation during message handling. Organizations running geth nodes should prioritize upgrading their systems to prevent exploitation, as there are no viable workarounds for this vulnerability. Network administrators should also consider implementing network-level monitoring to detect unusual memory consumption patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, though the primary defense remains the software upgrade. The vulnerability's severity classification as critical underscores the importance of prompt remediation, as the attack surface includes any node that accepts p2p connections from untrusted sources, making it a widespread concern across the Ethereum network infrastructure.