CVE-2021-43668: Github.com/ethereum/go ethereum Denial of Service Vulnerability
MODERATECVE-2021-43668 is a MODERATE (CVSS 5.5) denial of service vulnerability (CWE-476: NULL Pointer Dereference) affecting Github.com/ethereum/go ethereum libraries in the Go ecosystem. The issue involves denial of service in go-ethereum. Remediation is available in the latest vendor maintenance releases.
CVE-2021-43668 at a Glance
Security Impact
CVSS: 5.5
The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H).
How to Fix CVE-2021-43668
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.
Upgrade github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum to Latest secure release
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-2021-43668, 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 the patched release), 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 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
CVE-2021-43668 Affected Github.com/ethereum/go ethereum Versions
1 component(s)| Product / Package | Ecosystem | Affected Versions | Fixed Version |
|---|---|---|---|
|
github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum
|
Go |
≤ 1.10.9
|
|
References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2021-43668?
Which Github.com/ethereum/go ethereum versions are affected?
What version fixes CVE-2021-43668?
Is github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum affected?
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2021-43668?
What CWE is associated with CVE-2021-43668?
How can I check Go dependencies for CVE-2021-43668?
Machine-readable OSV JSON
OSV v1.5 Schema
{
"schema_version" : "1.4.0",
"id" : "GHSA-5m8f-chrv-7rw5",
"modified" : "2023-09-18T19:45:26Z",
"published" : "2021-11-23T18:04:47Z",
"aliases" : [ "CVE-2021-43668" ],
"summary" : "Denial of Service in Go-Ethereum",
"details" : "Go-Ethereum 1.10.9 nodes crash (denial of service) after receiving a serial of messages and cannot be recovered. They will crash with \"runtime error: invalid memory address or nil pointer dereference\" and arise a SEGV signal.",
"severity" : [ {
"type" : "CVSS_V3",
"score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H"
} ],
"affected" : [ {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "Go",
"name" : "github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "0"
}, {
"last_affected" : "1.10.9"
} ]
} ]
} ],
"references" : [ {
"type" : "ADVISORY",
"url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-43668"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/issues/23866"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/syndtr/goleveldb/issues/373"
}, {
"type" : "PACKAGE",
"url" : "https://github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum"
} ],
"database_specific" : {
"cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-476" ],
"severity" : "MODERATE",
"github_reviewed" : true,
"github_reviewed_at" : "2021-11-19T13:19:43Z",
"nvd_published_at" : "2021-11-18T16:15:00Z"
}
}