Nimiq light-blockchain: Light blockchain rebranch issue
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · Low · Low
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA.
Summary
Nimiq is a Rust implementation of the Nimiq Proof-of-Stake protocol based on the Albatross consensus algorithm. Prior to version 1.4.0, when LightBlockchain::rebranch() adopts a fork chain whose tip is a macro block (checkpoint or election), it only updates self.head but fails to update self.macro_head, self.election_head, self.current_validators, or store the election header in the chain_store. This is in direct contrast with the full Blockchain::rebranch() at blockchain/src/blockchain/push.rs:504-518, which correctly updates all macro/election state when the new head is a macro block. After a rebranch to a macro block, the stale macro_head causes subsequent macro blocks pushed via push() to be verified against the wrong predecessor via verify_macro_successor(&this.macro_head). If the rebranch target was an election block, the stale current_validators causes every subsequent block to fail verify_validators(), completely stalling the light client's chain progression. This issue has been patched in version 1.4.0.
Why it matters now
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
Remediation
- Fix · CNA core-rs-albatross (nimiq) Fixed in 1.4.0
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-46540
References
More nimiq vulnerabilities
- TI-2026-26389 nimiq-account: Vesting insufficient funds error can panic CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.2
- TI-2026-25867 nimiq-block has skip block quorum bypass via out-of-range BitSet indices & u16 truncation CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.6
- TI-2026-34086 Nimiq: Validity store off by one error CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
- TI-2026-28920 nimiq-keys: Unchecked Ed25519 signature length in TaggedPublicKey::verify causes remote node panic via DHT CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
- TI-2025-29800 nimiq-network-libp2p Uncontrolled Resource Consumption vulnerability CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
- TI-2026-34224 nimiq-primitives: Panic DoS in trie chunk processing via ROOT-keyed item CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
Sources
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences