GHSA-23qp-3c2m-xx6w: wasmvm Malicious Smart Contract Can Crash Vulnerability
MODERATEGHSA-23qp-3c2m-xx6w is a MODERATE malicious smart contract can crash vulnerability (CWE-476: NULL Pointer Dereference) affecting wasmvm libraries in the Go ecosystem. The issue involves malicious smart contract can crash the chain. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.5.8, 2.0.6, 2.1.5, 2.2.2.
GHSA-23qp-3c2m-xx6w at a Glance
How to Fix GHSA-23qp-3c2m-xx6w
To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected wasmvm dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.
Upgrade github.com/CosmWasm/wasmvm to 1.5.8
Upgrade github.com/CosmWasm/wasmvm/v2 to 2.0.6
Upgrade github.com/CosmWasm/wasmvm/v2 to 2.1.5
Upgrade github.com/CosmWasm/wasmvm/v2 to 2.2.2
Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release:
inspect dependencies for github.com/CosmWasm/wasmvm
How to Check if You Are Affected
To determine whether your application is affected by GHSA-23qp-3c2m-xx6w, inspect your project dependencies for wasmvm:
inspect dependencies for github.com/CosmWasm/wasmvm
Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of wasmvm in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 1.5.8), your application is affected.
Note: Verify declared build manifests and deployed runtime container environments.
Technical Details
Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis
This vulnerability is classified under CWE-476: NULL Pointer Dereference, where the product dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid but is null. In wasmvm, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.
Source Advisory Statement
GHSA-23qp-3c2m-xx6w Affected wasmvm Versions
4 component(s)| Product / Package | Ecosystem | Affected Versions | Fixed Version |
|---|---|---|---|
|
github.com/CosmWasm/wasmvm
|
Go |
< 1.5.8
|
1.5.8
|
|
github.com/CosmWasm/wasmvm/v2
|
Go |
≥ 2.0.0
< 2.0.6
|
2.0.6
|
|
github.com/CosmWasm/wasmvm/v2
|
Go |
≥ 2.1.0
< 2.1.5
|
2.1.5
|
|
github.com/CosmWasm/wasmvm/v2
|
Go |
≥ 2.2.0
< 2.2.2
|
2.2.2
|
References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is GHSA-23qp-3c2m-xx6w?
Which wasmvm versions are affected?
What version fixes GHSA-23qp-3c2m-xx6w?
Is github.com/CosmWasm/wasmvm affected?
Is github.com/CosmWasm/wasmvm/v2 affected?
What CWE is associated with GHSA-23qp-3c2m-xx6w?
How can I check Go dependencies for GHSA-23qp-3c2m-xx6w?
Machine-readable OSV JSON
OSV v1.5 Schema
{
"schema_version" : "1.4.0",
"id" : "GHSA-23qp-3c2m-xx6w",
"modified" : "2025-02-06T18:03:00Z",
"published" : "2025-02-04T18:54:13Z",
"aliases" : [ ],
"summary" : "wasmvm: Malicious smart contract can crash the chain",
"details" : "# CWA-2025-001\n\n**Severity**\n\nMedium (Moderate + Likely)[^1]\n\n**Affected versions:**\n\n- wasmvm >= 2.2.0, < 2.2.2\n- wasmvm >= 2.1.0, < 2.1.5\n- wasmvm >= 2.0.0, < 2.0.6\n- wasmvm < 1.5.8\n\n**Patched versions:**\n\n- wasmvm 1.5.8, 2.0.6, 2.1.5, 2.2.2\n\n## Description of the bug\n\nThe vulnerability can be used to crash the chain. The underlying bug that causes this is present on both permissioned and premissionless chains, but it can only be triggered _reliably_ with a malicious contract, so permissioned chains are much less likely to be affected.\n\n(We'll add more detail once chains had a chance to upgrade.)\n\n## Patch\n\n- 1.5: https://github.com/CosmWasm/wasmvm/commit/1151bc6df7d02d1889b8da37cf8510eaf4198eea\n- 2.0: https://github.com/CosmWasm/wasmvm/commit/d4ff2adee44e6b9f7415a5dfbb3de745ab9b7678\n- 2.1: https://github.com/CosmWasm/wasmvm/commit/8d44a286fabc793a2fba93752e58cd0fd5b88a2d\n- 2.2: https://github.com/CosmWasm/wasmvm/commit/0aefa4c378457aeb3c07e7975b875be38872c56d\n\n## Applying the patch\n\nThe patch will be shipped in releases of wasmvm. You can update more or less as follows:\n\n1. Check the current wasmvm version: `go list -m github.com/CosmWasm/wasmvm`\n2. Bump the `github.com/CosmWasm/wasmvm` dependency in your go.mod to one of the patched version\n depending on which minor version you are on; `go mod tidy`; commit.\n3. If you use the static libraries `libwasmvm_muslc.aarch64.a`/`libwasmvm_muslc.x86_64.a`, update them accordingly.\n4. Check the updated wasmvm version: `go list -m github.com/CosmWasm/wasmvm` and ensure you see 1.5.8, 2.0.6, 2.1.5 or 2.2.2.\n5. Follow your regular practices to deploy chain upgrades.\n\nWhile the fix for this issue is not consensus breaking, the patch contains another\nconsensus breaking fix and requires a coordinated upgrade.\n\n## Acknowledgement\n\nThis issue was found by meadow101 who reported it to the Cosmos Bug Bounty Program on HackerOne.\n\nIf you believe you have found a bug in the Interchain Stack or would like to contribute to the\nprogram by reporting a bug, please see <https://hackerone.com/cosmos>.\n\n## Timeline\n\n- 2024-11-25: Confio receives a report through the Cosmos bug bounty program maintained by Amulet.\n- 2024-11-28: Confio security contributors confirm the report.\n- 2024-11-28: Confio developed the patch internally.\n- 2025-02-04: Patch gets released.\n\n[^1]: following Amulet's Severity Classification Framework ACMv1.2: https://github.com/interchainio/security/blob/0295254e8645301ccb606d46108a45cede0a73e0/resources/CLASSIFICATION_MATRIX.md",
"severity" : [ ],
"affected" : [ {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "Go",
"name" : "github.com/CosmWasm/wasmvm"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "0"
}, {
"fixed" : "1.5.8"
} ]
} ]
}, {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "Go",
"name" : "github.com/CosmWasm/wasmvm/v2"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "2.0.0"
}, {
"fixed" : "2.0.6"
} ]
} ]
}, {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "Go",
"name" : "github.com/CosmWasm/wasmvm/v2"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "2.1.0"
}, {
"fixed" : "2.1.5"
} ]
} ]
}, {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "Go",
"name" : "github.com/CosmWasm/wasmvm/v2"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "2.2.0"
}, {
"fixed" : "2.2.2"
} ]
} ]
} ],
"references" : [ {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/CosmWasm/wasmvm/security/advisories/GHSA-23qp-3c2m-xx6w"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/CosmWasm/wasmvm/commit/0aefa4c378457aeb3c07e7975b875be38872c56d"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/CosmWasm/wasmvm/commit/1151bc6df7d02d1889b8da37cf8510eaf4198eea"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/CosmWasm/wasmvm/commit/8d44a286fabc793a2fba93752e58cd0fd5b88a2d"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/CosmWasm/wasmvm/commit/d4ff2adee44e6b9f7415a5dfbb3de745ab9b7678"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/CosmWasm/advisories/blob/main/CWAs/CWA-2025-001.md"
}, {
"type" : "PACKAGE",
"url" : "https://github.com/CosmWasm/wasmvm"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://pkg.go.dev/vuln/GO-2025-3448"
} ],
"database_specific" : {
"cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-476" ],
"severity" : "MODERATE",
"github_reviewed" : true,
"github_reviewed_at" : "2025-02-04T18:54:13Z",
"nvd_published_at" : null
}
}