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TI-2023-21389 Aliases CVE-2023-40591GHSA-ppjg-v974-84cm

Denial of service via malicious p2p message in go-ethereum

Priority MEDIUM 41CWE-400Published · Updated

Key facts

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

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

Summary

go-ethereum (geth) is a golang execution layer implementation of the Ethereum protocol. A vulnerable node, can be made to consume unbounded amounts of memory when handling specially crafted p2p messages sent from an attacker node. The fix is included in geth version `1.12.1-stable`, i.e, `1.12.2-unstable` and onwards. Users are advised to upgrade. There are no known workarounds for this vulnerability.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.01121 66th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed go-ethereum (ethereum): 1.12.1-stablegithub.com/ethereum/go-ethereum (Go): 1.12.1-stable

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

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
ethereumgo-ethereumbefore 1.12.1-stable1.12.1-stablePatch availableCNA
—github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum (Go)before 1.12.1-stable1.12.1-stablePatch availableGHSA-ppjg-v974-84cm
  • go-ethereum Vendorethereum Affected before 1.12.1-stable Fixed in 1.12.1-stable Patch available CNA
  • github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum (Go) Vendor— Affected before 1.12.1-stable Fixed in 1.12.1-stable Patch available GHSA-ppjg-v974-84cm

CPE configurations NVD · 1

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:ethereum:go_ethereum:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*1.10.0 to before 1.12.1Vulnerableethereum
  • cpe:2.3:a:ethereum:go_ethereum:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.10.0 to before 1.12.1 Vulnerable ·ethereum

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA go-ethereum (ethereum) Fixed in 1.12.1-stable
  • Fix · GHSA-ppjg-v974-84cm github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum (Go) Fixed in 1.12.1-stable Advisory →

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2023-40591
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-ppjg-v974-84cm

References

  • TI-2023-22561 Geth (aka go-ethereum) through 1.13.4, when --http --graphql is used, allows remote… CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
  • TI-2026-21270 Go Ethereum affected by DoS via malicious p2p message CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.7
  • TI-2018-08612 The GetBlockHeadersMsg handler in the LES protocol implementation in Go Ethereum (aka… CVSS 3.0HIGH 7.5
  • TI-2026-21271 Go Ethereum Improperly Validates the ECIES Public Key in RLPx Handshake CVSS 4.0MEDIUM 6.9
  • TI-2026-21269 Go Ethereum affected by DoS via malicious p2p message CVSS 4.0MEDIUM 6.9
  • TI-2020-16061 Erroneous Proof of Work calculation in geth CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
See all 23 →

Sources