VDB-101760 · CVE-2017-9230 · BID 98657

Bitcoin Proof-of-Work Block Header Hashcash weak prng ⚔ [Disputed]

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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Current Exploit Price (≈)
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CTI Interest Score
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6.9$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability categorized as critical has been discovered in Bitcoin. Affected is an unknown function of the component Proof-of-Work. The manipulation as part of Block Header results in weak prng (Hashcash). This vulnerability is known as CVE-2017-9230. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. No exploit is available. The actual existence of this vulnerability is currently in question.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Bitcoin (affected version unknown). It has been classified as critical. Affected is an unknown functionality of the component Proof-of-Work. The manipulation as part of a Block Header leads to a weak prng vulnerability (Hashcash). CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-338. The product uses a Pseudo-Random Number Generator (PRNG) in a security context, but the PRNG's algorithm is not cryptographically strong. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

The Bitcoin Proof-of-Work algorithm does not consider a certain attack methodology related to 80-byte block headers with a variety of initial 64-byte chunks followed by the same 16-byte chunk, multiple candidate root values ending with the same 4 bytes, and calculations involving sqrt numbers. This violates the security assumptions of (1) the choice of input, outside of the dedicated nonce area, fed into the Proof-of-Work function should not change its difficulty to evaluate and (2) every Proof-of-Work function execution should be independent. NOTE: a number of persons feel that this methodology is a benign mining optimization, not a vulnerability

The bug was discovered 05/26/2017. The weakness was published 05/24/2017 by ERNE (Website). The advisory is shared for download at mit.edu. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2017-9230 since 05/24/2017. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. The exploitation doesn't require any form of authentication. There are neither technical details nor an exploit publicly available. The MITRE ATT&CK project declares the attack technique as T1600.001.

The real existence of this vulnerability is still doubted at the moment.

There is no information about possible countermeasures known. It may be suggested to replace the affected object with an alternative product.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at SecurityFocus (BID 98657†). VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

Productinfo

Name

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 6.9
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.9

VulDB Base Score: 5.6
VulDB Temp Score: 5.6
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 7.5
NVD Vector: 🔍

CNA Base Score: 7.5
CNA Vector: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Name: Hashcash
Class: Weak prng / Hashcash
CWE: CWE-338 / CWE-331 / CWE-330
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: no mitigation known
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Timelineinfo

05/24/2017 🔍
05/24/2017 +0 days 🔍
05/24/2017 +0 days 🔍
05/24/2017 +0 days 🔍
05/25/2017 +1 days 🔍
05/26/2017 +1 days 🔍
07/03/2024 +2595 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Advisory: mit.edu
Researcher: Timo Hanke, Sergio Demian Lerner (ERNE)
Status: Not defined
Disputed: 🔍

CVE: CVE-2017-9230 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2017-9230
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-101760
SecurityFocus: 98657 - Bitcoin Proof-of-Work Algorithm CVE-2017-9230 Security Weakness
OSVDB: - CVE-2017-9230 - Bitcoin - Bitcoin - Medium

Entryinfo

Created: 05/25/2017 09:51
Updated: 07/03/2024 13:42
Changes: 05/25/2017 09:51 (59), 10/02/2020 20:18 (5), 12/25/2020 15:33 (3), 06/04/2024 21:38 (28), 07/03/2024 13:42 (2)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216:D13:103

VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

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