TI-2023-10871 Aliases CVE-2023-25568 GHSA-m974-xj4j-7qv5

Boxo bitswap/server: DOS unbounded persistent memory leak

MEDIUM 43CWE-400Published 2023-05-10 · Updated 2025-02-13

Key facts

Attack vector: Network
Privileges required: None
User interaction: None
Attack complexity: Low
Impact type: Denial of service
Confidentiality · integrity · availability: None · Low · High
Fix status: Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and GitHub. Impact type from CWE-400.

Summary

Boxo, formerly known as go-libipfs, is a library for building IPFS applications and implementations. In versions 0.4.0 and 0.5.0, if an attacker is able allocate arbitrary many bytes in the Bitswap server, those allocations are lasting even if the connection is closed. This affects users accepting untrusted connections with the Bitswap server and also affects users using the old API stubs at `github.com/ipfs/go-libipfs/bitswap` because users then transitively import `github.com/ipfs/go-libipfs/bitswap/server`. Boxo versions 0.6.0 and 0.4.1 contain a patch for this issue. As a workaround, those who are using the stub object at `github.com/ipfs/go-libipfs/bitswap` not taking advantage of the features provided by the server can refactor their code to use the new split API that will allow them to run in a client only mode: `github.com/ipfs/go-libipfs/bitswap/client`.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV

EPSS 0.00856 58th percentileScored 2026-11-07

Fix Fixed github.com/ipfs/go-libipfs (Go): 0.6.0, 0.4.1

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation: None
Automatable: Yes
Technical impact: Partial

The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.

Affected products

Vendor	Product	Affected versions	Fixed in	Status	Source
ipfs	boxo	0.4.0; 0.5.0	—	No fix listed	CNA
—	github.com/ipfs/go-libipfs (Go)	0.5.0 to before 0.6.0	0.6.0	Patch available	GHSA-m974-xj4j-7qv5
—	github.com/ipfs/go-libipfs (Go)	before 0.4.1	0.4.1	Patch available	GHSA-m974-xj4j-7qv5

boxo Vendoripfs Affected 0.4.0; 0.5.0 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
github.com/ipfs/go-libipfs (Go) Vendor— Affected 0.5.0 to before 0.6.0 Fixed in 0.6.0 Patch available GHSA-m974-xj4j-7qv5
github.com/ipfs/go-libipfs (Go) Vendor— Affected before 0.4.1 Fixed in 0.4.1 Patch available GHSA-m974-xj4j-7qv5

CPE configurations NVD · 2

CPE	Versions	Role	Vendor
cpe:2.3:a:protocol:boxo:0.4.0:::::go::	0.4.0	Vulnerable	Protocol
cpe:2.3:a:protocol:boxo:0.5.0:::::go::	0.5.0	Vulnerable	Protocol

cpe:2.3:a:protocol:boxo:0.4.0:*:*:*:*:go:*:* Versions 0.4.0 Vulnerable ·Protocol
cpe:2.3:a:protocol:boxo:0.5.0:*:*:*:*:go:*:* Versions 0.5.0 Vulnerable ·Protocol

Remediation

Fix · GHSA-m974-xj4j-7qv5 github.com/ipfs/go-libipfs (Go) Fixed in 0.6.0 Advisory →
Fix · GHSA-m974-xj4j-7qv5 github.com/ipfs/go-libipfs (Go) Fixed in 0.4.1 Advisory →

Timeline

2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2023-25568
2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-m974-xj4j-7qv5

References

Patch 4

Advisory 1

https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-25568

Other 2

TI-2023-09455 Denial of service when feeding malformed size arguments in go-bitfield CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
TI-2020-08933 Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor in AEgir CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.6
TI-2022-07554 ProtoNode may be modified such that common method calls may panic in ipfs/go-merkledag CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
TI-2020-16104 Control character injection in console output CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
TI-2020-16100 Path traversal in ipfs go-ipfs CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.1
TI-2016-08604 Cryptographic flaw in HackerOne go-ipfs-dep node module CVSS 3.0HIGH 8.1

See all 8 →

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences