Bitcoin Core 0.12.0 through 0.21.1 does not properly implement the replacement policy…
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Security bypass
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · Low · Low
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-863.
Summary
Bitcoin Core 0.12.0 through 0.21.1 does not properly implement the replacement policy specified in BIP125, which makes it easier for attackers to trigger a loss of funds, or a denial of service attack against downstream projects such as Lightning network nodes. An unconfirmed child transaction with nSequence = 0xff_ff_ff_ff, spending an unconfirmed parent with nSequence <= 0xff_ff_ff_fd, should be replaceable because there is inherited signaling by the child transaction. However, the actual PreChecks implementation does not enforce this. Instead, mempool rejects the replacement attempt of the unconfirmed child transaction.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | all versions | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- — Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-31876
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-cm2c-8c7c-974f
References
More Bitcoin vulnerabilities
- TI-2021-02368 Bitcoin Core before 0.19.0 might allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code when… CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2017-06679 The Bitcoin Proof-of-Work algorithm does not consider a certain attack methodology… CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
Sources
- CVE-2021-31876 · CVE Program
- CVE-2021-31876 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-cm2c-8c7c-974f · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
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