risc0 vulnerable to arbitrary code execution in guest via memory safety failure in `sys_read`
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Attack requirements
- None
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 4.0 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and GitHub. Impact type from CWE-94.
Summary
RISC Zero is a zero-knowledge verifiable general computing platform based on zk-STARKs and the RISC-V microarchitecture. In versions 2.0.2 and below of risc0-zkvm-platform, when the zkVM guest calls sys_read, the host is able to use a crafted response to write to an arbitrary memory location in the guest. This capability can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code within the guest. As sys_read is the mechanism by which input is requested by the guest, all guest programs built with the affected versions are vulnerable. This critically compromises the soundness guarantees of the guest program. Other affected packages include risc0-aggregation versions below 0.9, risc0-zkos-v1compat below 2.1.0, risc0-zkvm versions between 3.0.0-rc.1 and 3.0.1. This issue has been fixed in the following versions: risc0-zkvm-platform 2.1.0, risc0-zkos-v1compat 2.1.0, risc0-aggregation 0.9, and risc0-zkvm 2.3.2 and 3.0.3.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- Yes
- Technical impact
- Total
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 | before 2.1.0 | 2.1.0 | Patch available | CNA |
| — | risc0-zkvm-platform (crates.io) | before 2.1.0 | 2.1.0 | Patch available | GHSA-jqq4-c7wq-36h7 |
| — | risc0-zkos-v1compat (crates.io) | before 2.1.0 | 2.1.0 | Patch available | GHSA-jqq4-c7wq-36h7 |
| — | risc0-aggregation (crates.io) | before 0.9 | 0.9 | Patch available | GHSA-jqq4-c7wq-36h7 |
| — | risc0-zkvm (crates.io) | before 2.3.2 | 2.3.2 | Patch available | GHSA-jqq4-c7wq-36h7 |
| — | risc0-zkvm (crates.io) | 3.0.0 to before 3.0.3 | 3.0.3 | Patch available | GHSA-jqq4-c7wq-36h7 |
- risc0 Vendorrisc0 Affected before 2.1.0 Fixed in 2.1.0 Patch available CNA
- risc0-zkvm-platform (crates.io) Vendor— Affected before 2.1.0 Fixed in 2.1.0 Patch available GHSA-jqq4-c7wq-36h7
- risc0-zkos-v1compat (crates.io) Vendor— Affected before 2.1.0 Fixed in 2.1.0 Patch available GHSA-jqq4-c7wq-36h7
- risc0-aggregation (crates.io) Vendor— Affected before 0.9 Fixed in 0.9 Patch available GHSA-jqq4-c7wq-36h7
- risc0-zkvm (crates.io) Vendor— Affected before 2.3.2 Fixed in 2.3.2 Patch available GHSA-jqq4-c7wq-36h7
- risc0-zkvm (crates.io) Vendor— Affected 3.0.0 to before 3.0.3 Fixed in 3.0.3 Patch available GHSA-jqq4-c7wq-36h7
Remediation
- Fix · CNA risc0 (risc0) Fixed in 2.1.0
- Fix · GHSA-jqq4-c7wq-36h7 risc0-zkvm-platform (crates.io) Fixed in 2.1.0 Advisory →
- Fix · GHSA-jqq4-c7wq-36h7 risc0-zkos-v1compat (crates.io) Fixed in 2.1.0 Advisory →
- Fix · GHSA-jqq4-c7wq-36h7 risc0-aggregation (crates.io) Fixed in 0.9 Advisory →
- Fix · GHSA-jqq4-c7wq-36h7 risc0-zkvm (crates.io) Fixed in 2.3.2 Advisory →
- Fix · GHSA-jqq4-c7wq-36h7 risc0-zkvm (crates.io) Fixed in 3.0.3 Advisory →
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2025-61588
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-jqq4-c7wq-36h7
References
More risc0 vulnerabilities
- TI-2025-32920 risc0-ethereum-contracts allows invalid commitment with digest value of zero to be accepted by Steel.validateCommitment CVSS 4.0LOW 1.7
- 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-2025-61588 · CVE Program
- CVE-2025-61588 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-jqq4-c7wq-36h7 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
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