CVE-2020-26241 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Learn about CVE-2020-26241 affecting go-ethereum by Ethereum. Discover the impact, technical details, and mitigation steps for the shallow copy bug in Geth versions before 1.9.17.
Go Ethereum, or "Geth", is the official Golang implementation of the Ethereum protocol. This CVE involves a Consensus vulnerability in Geth versions before 1.9.17, allowing for a chain-split scenario where vulnerable nodes reject the canonical chain due to a shallow copy bug.
Understanding CVE-2020-26241
This vulnerability affects the Ethereum product 'go-ethereum' by the vendor Ethereum.
What is CVE-2020-26241?
The vulnerability in Geth versions prior to 1.9.17 allows an attacker to manipulate EVM memory regions, potentially leading to a chain-split situation where Geth behaves differently from consensus-compliant nodes.
The Impact of CVE-2020-26241
The impact of this vulnerability is rated as MEDIUM with a CVSS base score of 6.5. It has a LOW attack complexity and requires LOW privileges, but it can result in HIGH integrity impact.
Technical Details of CVE-2020-26241
This section provides more technical insights into the vulnerability.
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability arises from a shallow copy bug in Geth versions before 1.9.17, affecting the dataCopy contract's behavior during invocation.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Product: go-ethereum
- Vendor: Ethereum
- Versions Affected: >= 1.9.7, < 1.9.17
Exploitation Mechanism
An attacker can deploy a contract that manipulates EVM memory regions, causing Geth to diverge from the expected behavior of consensus-compliant nodes.
Mitigation and Prevention
It is crucial to take immediate steps to address and prevent the exploitation of this vulnerability.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Update Geth to version 1.9.17 or newer to mitigate the vulnerability.
- Monitor for any unusual chain behavior that could indicate exploitation.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update software to the latest versions to patch known vulnerabilities.
- Implement network monitoring and anomaly detection to identify suspicious activities.
Patching and Updates
- Apply patches and updates provided by the Ethereum team promptly to ensure system security.