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NOTICE UPDATED - April, 25th 2024

NIST has updated the NVD program announcement page with additional information regarding recent concerns and the temporary delays in enrichment efforts.

CVE-2023-42449 Detail

Description

Hydra is the two-layer scalability solution for Cardano. Prior to version 0.13.0, it is possible for a malicious head initializer to extract one or more PTs for the head they are initializing due to incorrect data validation logic in the head token minting policy which then results in an flawed check for burning the head ST in the `initial` validator. This is possible because it is not checked in `HeadTokens.hs` that the datums of the outputs at the `initial` validator are equal to the real head ID, and it is also not checked in the `off-chain code`. During the `Initial` state of the protocol, if the malicious initializer removes a PT from the Hydra scripts it becomes impossible for any other participant to reclaim any funds they have attempted to commit into the head, as to do so the Abort transaction must burn all the PTs for the head, but they cannot burn the PT which the attacker controls and so cannot satisfy this requirement. That means the initializer can lock the other participants committed funds forever or until they choose to return the PT (ransom). The malicious initializer can also use the PT to spoof that they have committed a particular TxO when progressing the head into the `Open` state. For example, they could say they committed a TxO residing at their address containing 100 ADA, but in fact this 100 ADA was not moved into the head, and thus in order for an other participant to perform the fanout they will be forced to pay the attacker the 100 ADA out of their own funds, as the fanout transaction must pay all the committed TxOs (even though the attacker did not really commit that TxO). They can do this by placing the PT in a UTxO with a well-formed `Commit` datum with whatever contents they like, then use this UTxO in the `collectCom` transaction. There may be other possible ways to abuse having control of a PT. Version 0.13.0 fixes this issue.


Severity



CVSS 3.x Severity and Metrics:

NIST CVSS score matches with CNA score
CNA:  GitHub, Inc.
Base Score:  8.1 HIGH
Vector:  CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H


NVD Analysts use publicly available information to associate vector strings and CVSS scores. We also display any CVSS information provided within the CVE List from the CNA.

Note: The NVD and the CNA have provided the same score. When this occurs only the CNA information is displayed, but the Acceptance Level icon for the CNA is given a checkmark to signify NVD concurrence.

References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools

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Hyperlink Resource
https://github.com/input-output-hk/hydra/blob/1e13b60a7b21c5ccd6c36e3cf220547f5d443cef/hydra-node/src/Hydra/Chain/Direct/Tx.hs#L645-L761 Product 
https://github.com/input-output-hk/hydra/blob/1e13b60a7b21c5ccd6c36e3cf220547f5d443cef/hydra-plutus/src/Hydra/Contract/Initial.hs#L84-L91 Product 
https://github.com/input-output-hk/hydra/blob/master/CHANGELOG.md#0130---2023-10-03 Release Notes 
https://github.com/input-output-hk/hydra/blob/master/hydra-plutus/src/Hydra/Contract/HeadTokens.hs#L76-L136 Product 
https://github.com/input-output-hk/hydra/security/advisories/GHSA-9m8q-7wxv-v65p Exploit  Vendor Advisory 

Weakness Enumeration

CWE-ID CWE Name Source
NVD-CWE-noinfo Insufficient Information cwe source acceptance level NIST  
CWE-20 Improper Input Validation Provider acceptance level GitHub, Inc.  

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Change History

1 change records found show changes

Quick Info

CVE Dictionary Entry:
CVE-2023-42449
NVD Published Date:
10/04/2023
NVD Last Modified:
10/10/2023
Source:
GitHub, Inc.