Lightning Network Daemon Onion Bomb
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and GitHub.
Summary
The Lightning Network Daemon (lnd) - is a complete implementation of a Lightning Network node. A parsing vulnerability in lnd's onion processing logic and lead to a DoS vector due to excessive memory allocation. The issue was patched in lnd v0.17.0. Users should update to a version > v0.17.0 to be protected. Users unable to upgrade may set the `--rejecthtlc` CLI flag and also disable forwarding on channels via the `UpdateChanPolicyCommand`, or disable listening on a public network interface via the `--nolisten` flag as a mitigation.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- Poc
- Automatable
- No
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| lightningnetwork | lnd | before 0.17.0 | 0.17.0 | Patch available | CNA |
| — | github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd (Go) | before 0.17.0-beta | 0.17.0-beta | Patch available | GHSA-9gxx-58q6-42p7 |
- lnd Vendorlightningnetwork Affected before 0.17.0 Fixed in 0.17.0 Patch available CNA
- github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd (Go) Vendor— Affected before 0.17.0-beta Fixed in 0.17.0-beta Patch available GHSA-9gxx-58q6-42p7
CPE names CISA-ADP · 1
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:lightning_network_daemon_project:lightning_network_daemon:0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 0 | — | Lightning Network Daemon Project |
- cpe:2.3:a:lightning_network_daemon_project:lightning_network_daemon:0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0 — ·Lightning Network Daemon Project
Remediation
- Fix · CNA lnd (lightningnetwork) Fixed in 0.17.0
- Fix · GHSA-9gxx-58q6-42p7 github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd (Go) Fixed in 0.17.0-beta Advisory →
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2024-38359
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-9gxx-58q6-42p7
References
Other 6
- https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/security/advisories/GHSA-9gxx-58q6-42p7
- https://delvingbitcoin.org/t/dos-disclosure-lnd-onion-bomb/979
- https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/releases/tag/v0.17.0-beta
- https://lightning.network
- https://morehouse.github.io/lightning/lnd-onion-bomb
- https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd
Sources
- CVE-2024-38359 · CVE Program
- CVE-2024-38359 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-9gxx-58q6-42p7 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences