Vulnerability CVE-2023-42448
Published: 2023-10-04

Description:
Hydra is the layer-two scalability solution for Cardano. Prior to version 0.13.0, the specification states that the contestation period in the datum of the UTxO at the head validator must stay unchanged as the state progresses from Open to Closed (Close transaction), but no such check appears to be performed in the `checkClose` function of the head validator. This would allow a malicious participant to modify the contestation deadline of the head to either allow them to fanout the head without giving another participant the chance to contest, or prevent any participant from ever redistributing the funds locked in the head via a fan-out. Version 0.13.0 contains a patch for this issue.

Type:

CWE-20

 (Improper Input Validation)

 References:
https://github.com/input-output-hk/hydra/blob/master/hydra-plutus/src/Hydra/Contract/Head.hs#L320-L323
https://github.com/input-output-hk/hydra/blob/master/CHANGELOG.md#0130---2023-10-03
https://github.com/input-output-hk/hydra/blob/master/hydra-plutus/src/Hydra/Contract/Head.hs#L284-L296
https://github.com/input-output-hk/hydra/security/advisories/GHSA-mgcx-6p7h-5996
https://github.com/input-output-hk/hydra/commit/2f45529729e28254a62f7a7c8d6649066923ed1f
Copyright 2026, cxsecurity.com

 

Back to Top