risc0-ethereum-contracts allows invalid commitment with digest value of zero to be accepted by Steel.validateCommitment
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
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| risc0 | risc0-ethereum | before 2.1.1 | 2.1.1 | Patch available | CNA |
| — | risc0-ethereum-contracts (crates.io) | before 2.1.1 | 2.1.1 | Patch available | GHSA-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
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2025-52884
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-gjv3-89hh-9xq2
References
Other 8
- https://github.com/risc0/risc0-ethereum/security/advisories/GHSA-gjv3-89hh-9xq2
- https://github.com/risc0/risc0-ethereum/pull/605
- https://github.com/risc0/risc0-ethereum/commit/3bbac859c7132b21ba5fdf2d47f1dd52e7e73d98
- https://docs.beboundless.xyz/developers/steel/how-it-works#verifying-the-proof-onchain
- https://github.com/risc0/risc0-ethereum/blob/ff0cb9253a87945b653b825711b8b5075f8b7545/examples/erc20-counter/contracts/src/Counter.sol#L56-L63
- https://github.com/risc0/risc0-ethereum/releases/tag/v2.1.1
- https://github.com/risc0/risc0-ethereum/releases/tag/v2.2.0
- https://github.com/risc0/risc0-ethereum
More risc0 vulnerabilities
- 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
- CVE-2025-52884 · CVE Program
- CVE-2025-52884 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-gjv3-89hh-9xq2 · 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