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TI-2026-21271 Aliases CVE-2026-26315GHSA-m6j8-rg6r-7mv8

Go Ethereum Improperly Validates the ECIES Public Key in RLPx Handshake

Priority LOW 37CWE-203Published · Updated

Key facts

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

Attack profile from CVSS 4.0 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and GitHub. Impact type from CWE-203.

Summary

go-ethereum (Geth) is a golang execution layer implementation of the Ethereum protocol. Prior to version 1.16.9, through a flaw in the ECIES cryptography implementation, an attacker may be able to extract bits of the p2p node key. The issue is resolved in the v1.16.9 and v1.17.0 releases of Geth. Geth maintainers recommend rotating the node key after applying the upgrade, which can be done by removing the file `<datadir>/geth/nodekey` before starting Geth.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00507 43rd percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed go-ethereum (ethereum): 1.16.9github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum (Go): 1.16.9

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 1.16.91.16.9Patch availableCNA
—github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum (Go)before 1.16.91.16.9Patch availableGHSA-m6j8-rg6r-7mv8
  • go-ethereum Vendorethereum Affected before 1.16.9 Fixed in 1.16.9 Patch available CNA
  • github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum (Go) Vendor— Affected before 1.16.9 Fixed in 1.16.9 Patch available GHSA-m6j8-rg6r-7mv8

CPE configurations NVD · 1

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:ethereum:go_ethereum:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*before 1.16.9Vulnerableethereum
  • cpe:2.3:a:ethereum:go_ethereum:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 1.16.9 Vulnerable ·ethereum

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA go-ethereum (ethereum) Fixed in 1.16.9
  • Fix · GHSA-m6j8-rg6r-7mv8 github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum (Go) Fixed in 1.16.9 Advisory →

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-26315
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-m6j8-rg6r-7mv8

References

Advisory 2

Other 5

  • 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-2023-21389 Denial of service via malicious p2p message in go-ethereum CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
  • TI-2018-08612 The GetBlockHeadersMsg handler in the LES protocol implementation in Go Ethereum (aka… CVSS 3.0HIGH 7.5
  • 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

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences