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TI-2025-32920 Aliases CVE-2025-52884GHSA-gjv3-89hh-9xq2

risc0-ethereum-contracts allows invalid commitment with digest value of zero to be accepted by Steel.validateCommitment

Priority MEDIUM 43CWE-159Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
High
Attack requirements
Present
Impact type
—
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
None · Low · None
Fix status
Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 4.0 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and GitHub.

Summary

RISC Zero is a zero-knowledge verifiable general computing platform, with Ethereum integration. The risc0-ethereum repository contains Solidity verifier contracts, Steel EVM view call library, and supporting code. Prior to versions 2.1.1 and 2.2.0, the `Steel.validateCommitment` Solidity library function will return `true` for a crafted commitment with a digest value of zero. This violates the semantics of `validateCommitment`, as this does not commitment to a block that is in the current chain. Because the digest is zero, it does not correspond to any block and there exist no known openings. As a result, this commitment will never be produced by a correct zkVM guest using Steel and leveraging this bug to compromise the soundness of a program using Steel would require a separate bug or misuse of the Steel library, which is expected to be used to validate the root of state opening proofs. A fix has been released as part of `risc0-ethereum` 2.1.1 and 2.2.0. Users for the `Steel` Solidity library versions 2.1.0 or earlier should ensure they are using `Steel.validateCommitment` in tandem with zkVM proof verification of a Steel program, as shown in the ERC-20 counter example, and documentation. This is the correct usage of Steel, and users following this pattern are not at risk, and do not need to take action. Users not verifying a zkVM proof of a Steel program should update their application to do so, as this is incorrect usage of Steel.

Why it matters now

Exploitation Proof of concept CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00414 36th percentileScored 2026-11-08
Fix Fixed risc0-ethereum (risc0): 2.1.1risc0-ethereum-contracts (crates.io): 2.1.1

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

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
risc0risc0-ethereumbefore 2.1.12.1.1Patch availableCNA
—risc0-ethereum-contracts (crates.io)before 2.1.12.1.1Patch availableGHSA-gjv3-89hh-9xq2
  • risc0-ethereum Vendorrisc0 Affected before 2.1.1 Fixed in 2.1.1 Patch available CNA
  • risc0-ethereum-contracts (crates.io) Vendor— Affected before 2.1.1 Fixed in 2.1.1 Patch available GHSA-gjv3-89hh-9xq2

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA risc0-ethereum (risc0) Fixed in 2.1.1
  • Fix · GHSA-gjv3-89hh-9xq2 risc0-ethereum-contracts (crates.io) Fixed in 2.1.1 Advisory →

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2025-52884
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-gjv3-89hh-9xq2

References

  • TI-2025-38034 risc0 vulnerable to arbitrary code execution in guest via memory safety failure in `sys_read` CVSS 4.0CRITICAL 9.3
  • TI-2025-34607 RISC Zero Underconstrained Vulnerability: Division CVSS 4.0LOW 2.7
  • TI-2025-32610 RISC Zero zkVM Underconstrained Vulnerability CVSS 4.0LOW 2.7

Sources