CVE-2023-42448 HIGH

CVE-2023-42448: Hydra's contestation period in head datum can be modified during Close transaction, allowing malicious participant to freely modify the contestation deadline

Vendor Input-Output-Hk
Product hydra
Weakness CWE-20 · Input validation
Published October 4, 2023
Last update September 19, 2024

CVSS base score

8.1/10
Attack vector Network
Attack complexity Low
Privileges required Low
User interaction None
Confidentiality None
Integrity High

CVSS vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H

What the vulnerability does

01Description

Hydra is the layer-two scalability solution for Cardano. Prior to version 0.13.0, the specification states that the contestation period in the datum of the UTxO at the head validator must stay unchanged as the state progresses from Open to Closed (Close transaction), but no such check appears to be performed in the `checkClose` function of the head validator. This would allow a malicious participant to modify the contestation deadline of the head to either allow them to fanout the head without giving another participant the chance to contest, or prevent any participant from ever redistributing the funds locked in the head via a fan-out. Version 0.13.0 contains a patch for this issue.

Key dates

02Disclosure timeline

October 4, 2023 CVE published
September 19, 2024 Record updated