CVE-2019-12998Known exploitationPublic exploitNetwork attack vector

Fund theft via unchecked channel funding output

Published Jan 31, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Incorrect access control in ElementsProject c-lightning before 0.7.1 allows remote attackers to steal funds through invalid channels. The channel-opening path checks only the funding transaction confirmation count, not whether the supplied output index exists and matches the signed commitment. A malicious peer can present a nonexistent or undersized funding output, cause acceptance of an unfunded channel, and receive routed payments backed by real funds.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability1.77%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationReported
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Incorrect access control in ElementsProject c-lightning before 0.7.1 allows remote attackers to steal funds through invalid channels. The channel-opening path checks only the funding transaction confirmation count, not whether the supplied output index exists and matches the signed commitment. A malicious peer can present a nonexistent or undersized funding output, cause acceptance of an unfunded channel, and receive routed payments backed by real funds.

The record

CVE
CVE-2019-12998
Published
Jan 31, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
T1657
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 10, 2019Exploitation reportedReported Lightning channel-funding exploitation
  2. Jan 31, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  3. Aug 4, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

5.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:N
7.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationReported
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1657Financial Theft

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Reported exploitation

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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