CVE-2018-16733: Github.com/ethereum/go ethereum Go Ethereum Improper Input Validation Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-qr2j-wrhx-4829
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CVSS 7.5
CWE-20
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2018-16733 is a HIGH (CVSS 7.5) go ethereum improper input validation vulnerability (CWE-20: Improper Input Validation) affecting Github.com/ethereum/go ethereum libraries in the Go ecosystem. The issue involves go ethereum improper input validation. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.8.14.

CVE-2018-16733 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2018-16733
GHSA Identifier GHSA-qr2j-wrhx-4829
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 7.5
CWE Classification CWE-20: Improper Input Validation
Affected Product Github.com/ethereum/go ethereum
Package Ecosystem Go
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 7.5

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality None (C:N)
Integrity High (I:H)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2018-16733

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Github.com/ethereum/go ethereum 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/ethereum/go-ethereum fixed: 1.8.14 
Upgrade github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum to 1.8.14
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/ethereum/go-ethereum

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your application is affected by CVE-2018-16733, inspect your project dependencies for Github.com/ethereum/go ethereum:

inspect dependencies for github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Github.com/ethereum/go ethereum in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 1.8.14), 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-20: Improper Input Validation, where the product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly. In Github.com/ethereum/go ethereum, 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

In Go Ethereum (aka geth) before 1.8.14, TraceChain in eth/api_tracer.go does not verify that the end block is after the start block. ### Specific Go Packages Affected github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/eth

CVE-2018-16733 Affected Github.com/ethereum/go ethereum Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
1.8.14
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum
golang/github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum
Go
< 1.8.14
1.8.14

References

NVD — CVE-2018-16733 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-16733
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/commit/106d196ec4a6451efedc60ab15957f231fa85639

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2018-16733?
CVE-2018-16733 is a security vulnerability in Github.com/ethereum/go ethereum involving Go Ethereum Improper Input Validation under CWE-20: Improper Input Validation.
Which Github.com/ethereum/go ethereum versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 1.8.14 across affected packages: github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum.
What version fixes CVE-2018-16733?
Upgrading to 1.8.14 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum affected?
Yes, github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum is affected in releases prior to 1.8.14. Upgrade your dependency to 1.8.14 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2018-16733?
CVE-2018-16733 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2018-16733?
CVE-2018-16733 is classified under CWE-20: Improper Input Validation (The product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly.).
How can I check Go dependencies for CVE-2018-16733?
Run the dependency tree command: 'inspect dependencies for github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum'. 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 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-qr2j-wrhx-4829",
  "modified" : "2023-10-02T11:49:01Z",
  "published" : "2021-05-18T18:38:06Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2018-16733" ],
  "summary" : "Go Ethereum Improper Input Validation",
  "details" : "In Go Ethereum (aka geth) before 1.8.14, TraceChain in eth/api_tracer.go does not verify that the end block is after the start block.\n\n### Specific Go Packages Affected\ngithub.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/eth",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Go",
      "name" : "github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.8.14"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-16733"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/commit/106d196ec4a6451efedc60ab15957f231fa85639"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-20" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2021-05-12T18:10:24Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}