CVE-2021-25836Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Honeypot contracts via failed-transaction bytecode persistence

Published Feb 8, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Cache lifecycle inconsistency in the EVM module of Cosmos Network Ethermint 0.4.0 and earlier allows remote attackers to persist failed bytecode. CommitStateDB retains stateObject.code after a multi-message transaction fails, then writes that stale bytecode to persistent storage during EndBlock. Network access to submit transactions requires no authentication or user interaction, and the resulting state corruption can create deceptive honeypot contracts.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability1.26%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Cache lifecycle inconsistency in the EVM module of Cosmos Network Ethermint 0.4.0 and earlier allows remote attackers to persist failed bytecode. CommitStateDB retains stateObject.code after a multi-message transaction fails, then writes that stale bytecode to persistent storage during EndBlock. Network access to submit transactions requires no authentication or user interaction, and the resulting state corruption can create deceptive honeypot contracts.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-25836
Published
Feb 8, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
Unavailable
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 8, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 3, 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 exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

No sourced classifications are available.

Public exploit references

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

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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