CVE-2022-44797

btcd before 0.23.2, as used in Lightning Labs lnd before 0.15.2-beta and other Bitcoin-related products, mishandles witness size checking

Critical · published November 7, 2022

CVSS v3.1
9.8
EPSS
1%
Percentile
70.2
In the wild
Unconfirmed
What it is

🔥 A loophole in btc's witness size checking could let an attacker craft transactions that are accepted without proper validation! Think of it like a bank accepting a cheque that doesn't fit the standard size requirements — it might look valid, but it's not properly checked, allowing for some sneaky alterations! This oversight means a malicious entity could exploit it to bypass transaction validation, creating potentially fraudulent transactions that slip right through the system's defenses. If left unchecked, it could lead to a cascade of financial losses and destabilize user trust in Bitcoin-related products.

Put simply

Think of it like a bank accepting a cheque that doesn't fit the standard size requirements — it might look valid, but it's not properly checked, allowing for some sneaky alterations! CVE-2022-44797 arises from btc's failure to correctly validate witness sizes in transactions, allowing unauthorized transaction processing without proper checks, particularly affecting Lightning Labs' lnd and other Bitcoin applications.

What to do

This oversight means a malicious entity could exploit it to bypass transaction validation, creating potentially fraudulent transactions that slip right through the system's defenses. If left unchecked, it could lead to a cascade of financial losses and destabilize user trust in Bitcoin-related products. Immediately upgrade btc to version 0.23.2 and Lightning Labs lnd to version 0.15.2-beta to fix this critical vulnerability. Additionally, audit transaction handling processes to ensure robust validation checks are always in place. You've got this! With these updates, you'll shore up your defenses and keep your transactions secure. 🛡️

The record
Technical detail
CVSS v3.1
9.8 · CRITICAL
Vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.01301 · 70.2th percentile
Published
2022-11-07T00:00Z
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 07 NOV 00:00Z
    btcd before 0.23.2, as used in Lightning Labs lnd before 0.15.2-beta and other Bitcoin-related products, mishandles witness size checking
    cvelistv5