CVE-2026-22868Network attack vector

CPU exhaustion via repeated invalid KZG proofs

Published Jan 13, 2026 · Updated Jan 13, 2026

Improper input validation in go-ethereum before 1.16.8 allows attackers to exhaust CPU by sending crafted p2p messages. The transaction fetcher verifies every invalid KZG cell proof in a delivered batch instead of stopping after the first costly failure. A peer session is required, and repeated invalid blob transactions can consume node CPU without reported data compromise.

CVSS severity7.1
High
EPSS probability0.63%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper input validation in go-ethereum before 1.16.8 allows attackers to exhaust CPU by sending crafted p2p messages. The transaction fetcher verifies every invalid KZG cell proof in a delivered batch instead of stopping after the first costly failure. A peer session is required, and repeated invalid blob transactions can consume node CPU without reported data compromise.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-22868
Published
Jan 13, 2026
Updated
Jan 13, 2026
Vendor
Ethereum Foundation
Product
go-ethereum
Classifications
CWE-20, T1499.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 13, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jan 13, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=< 1.16.8

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Ethereum Foundation · go-ethereumversion=< 1.16.8

Published CVSS scores

7.1GitHub, Inc.CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
7.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-20Improper Input Validation
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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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