CVE-2023-42448 : Security Advisory and Response

Hydra's contestation period in head datum can be modified during Close transaction, allowing malicious participants to freely modify the contestation deadline.

Understanding CVE-2023-42448

This CVE involves a vulnerability in the Hydra layer-two scalability solution for Cardano, allowing malicious participants to manipulate the contestation period in the head datum during a Close transaction.

What is CVE-2023-42448?

Hydra, specifically versions prior to 0.13.0, fails to enforce the contestation period's consistency during state progression from Open to Closed, potentially enabling malicious actions.

The Impact of CVE-2023-42448

The vulnerability allows a malicious participant to alter the contestation deadline of the head, impacting the fairness and security of transactions in the Hydra protocol.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-42448

The vulnerability's details include how the contestation period is not properly validated, affecting specific versions of Hydra.

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises in the

checkClose

function of the head validator, where the contestation period integrity is not maintained, enabling unauthorized modifications.

Affected Systems and Versions

Hydra versions prior to 0.13.0 are affected, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation.

Exploitation Mechanism

Malicious participants can exploit this vulnerability to manipulate contestation deadlines, impacting transaction fairness.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-42448, immediate actions and long-term security practices are essential.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users should update Hydra to version 0.13.0 or higher to apply the necessary patch and prevent exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement strict validation checks for transaction parameters and monitor for unauthorized changes to mitigate similar vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Regularly apply software updates and security patches to stay protected against emerging threats.