GHSA-qr8r-m495-7hc4: Github.com/cometbft/cometbft Validation Of `VoteExtensionsEnableHeight` Can Cause Vulnerability

HIGH
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Advisory Summary

GHSA-qr8r-m495-7hc4 is a HIGH validation of `voteextensionsenableheight` can cause vulnerability (General Security Weakness) affecting Github.com/cometbft/cometbft libraries in the Go ecosystem. The issue involves validation of `voteextensionsenableheight` can cause chain halt in go package github.com/cometbft/cometbft. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 0.38.3.

GHSA-qr8r-m495-7hc4 at a Glance

CVE Identifier N/A
GHSA Identifier GHSA-qr8r-m495-7hc4
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification General Security Weakness
Affected Product Github.com/cometbft/cometbft
Package Ecosystem Go
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix GHSA-qr8r-m495-7hc4

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Github.com/cometbft/cometbft dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

github.com/cometbft/cometbft fixed: 0.38.3 
Upgrade github.com/cometbft/cometbft to 0.38.3
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

inspect dependencies for github.com/cometbft/cometbft

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your application is affected by GHSA-qr8r-m495-7hc4, inspect your project dependencies for Github.com/cometbft/cometbft:

inspect dependencies for github.com/cometbft/cometbft

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Github.com/cometbft/cometbft in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 0.38.3), 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 General Security Weakness. In Github.com/cometbft/cometbft, 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

## Summary A vulnerability in CometBFT’s validation logic for `VoteExtensionsEnableHeight` can result in a chain halt when triggered through a governance parameter change proposal on an ABCI2 Application Chain. If a parameter change proposal including a `VoteExtensionsEnableHeight` modification is passed, nodes running the affected versions may panic, halting the network. The CometBFT team addressed this issue by improving validation logic for the `VoteExtensionsEnableHeight` to correctly handle governance proposals addressing this parameter. ## Next Steps for Impacted Parties If you are a chain developer with an active network running on CometBFT v. 0.38.x, we recommend updating your chain application to v0.38.3 or later of CometBFT to patch this issue. This issue can be resolved with a “soft patch” to an active network, i.e. nodes can be patched and restarted at different times without the need for a coordinated upgrade that halts a chain. If this patching methodology is used, the risk of a network halt triggered by this issue is mitigated once more than 66.7% of voting power on the network has applied the update, which provides protection from exploitation while on-chain governance processes for software upgrades take place. Once all validator nodes operating a network have been updated, the risk of a network halt due to this issue will be fully resolved. For more information about CometBFT, see https://docs.cometbft.com/. This issue was found by Dongsam ([@b_harvest](https://twitter.com/b__harvest?lang=en)) who reported it to the Cosmos Bug Bounty Program on HackerOne on January 15, 2024. If you believe you have found a bug in the Interchain Stack or would like to contribute to the program by reporting a bug, please see https://hackerone.com/cosmos.

GHSA-qr8r-m495-7hc4 Affected Github.com/cometbft/cometbft Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
0.38.3
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
github.com/cometbft/cometbft
golang/github.com/cometbft/cometbft
Go
≥ 0.38.0
< 0.38.3
0.38.3

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/cometbft/cometbft/security/advisories/GHSA-qr8r-m495-7hc4
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/cometbft/cometbft/commit/5fbc97378b94b0945febe9549399e7c9c5df13ed
Github.com/cometbft/cometbft Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/cometbft/cometbft

Frequently Asked Questions

What is GHSA-qr8r-m495-7hc4?
GHSA-qr8r-m495-7hc4 is a security vulnerability in Github.com/cometbft/cometbft involving Validation of `VoteExtensionsEnableHeight` can cause chain halt in Go package github.com/cometbft/cometbft under General Security Weakness.
Which Github.com/cometbft/cometbft versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 0.38.3 across affected packages: github.com/cometbft/cometbft.
What version fixes GHSA-qr8r-m495-7hc4?
Upgrading to 0.38.3 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is github.com/cometbft/cometbft affected?
Yes, github.com/cometbft/cometbft is affected in releases prior to 0.38.3. Upgrade your dependency to 0.38.3 or later.
What CWE is associated with GHSA-qr8r-m495-7hc4?
GHSA-qr8r-m495-7hc4 is classified under General Security Weakness.
How can I check Go dependencies for GHSA-qr8r-m495-7hc4?
Run the dependency tree command: 'inspect dependencies for github.com/cometbft/cometbft'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
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  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-qr8r-m495-7hc4",
  "modified" : "2024-01-19T15:28:44Z",
  "published" : "2024-01-19T15:28:44Z",
  "aliases" : [ ],
  "summary" : "Validation of `VoteExtensionsEnableHeight` can cause chain halt in Go package github.com/cometbft/cometbft",
  "details" : "## Summary\n\nA vulnerability in CometBFT’s validation logic for `VoteExtensionsEnableHeight` can result in a chain halt when triggered through a governance parameter change proposal on an ABCI2 Application Chain. If a parameter change proposal including a `VoteExtensionsEnableHeight` modification is passed, nodes running the affected versions may panic, halting the network.\n\nThe CometBFT team addressed this issue by improving validation logic for the `VoteExtensionsEnableHeight` to correctly handle governance proposals addressing this parameter.\n\n## Next Steps for Impacted Parties\n\nIf you are a chain developer with an active network running on CometBFT v. 0.38.x, we recommend updating your chain application to v0.38.3 or later of CometBFT to patch this issue. \n\nThis issue can be resolved with a “soft patch” to an active network, i.e. nodes can be patched and restarted at different times without the need for a coordinated upgrade that halts a chain. If this patching methodology is used, the risk of a network halt triggered by this issue is mitigated once more than 66.7% of voting power on the network has applied the update, which provides protection from exploitation while on-chain governance processes for software upgrades take place. Once all validator nodes operating a network have been updated, the risk of a network halt due to this issue will be fully resolved. \n\nFor more information about CometBFT, see https://docs.cometbft.com/. \n\nThis issue was found by Dongsam ([@b_harvest](https://twitter.com/b__harvest?lang=en)) who reported it to the Cosmos Bug Bounty Program on HackerOne on January 15, 2024. If you believe you have found a bug in the Interchain Stack or would like to contribute to the program by reporting a bug, please see https://hackerone.com/cosmos.",
  "severity" : [ ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Go",
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    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
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  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/cometbft/cometbft/commit/5fbc97378b94b0945febe9549399e7c9c5df13ed"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/cometbft/cometbft"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2024-01-19T15:28:44Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}