Memory exhaustion via timeout-path handle retention
Published Aug 18, 2026 · Updated Aug 19, 2026
Memory exhaustion in Zcash Foundation Zebra before 4.5.0 allows remote attackers to interrupt node service via crafted P2P transactions. In zebrad/src/components/mempool/downloads.rs, Downloads::poll_next leaves timed-out cancel_handles entries in memory because the outer RATE_LIMIT_DELAY timeout returns tokio::time::error::Elapsed without the UnminedTxId needed to remove the retained transaction state. Exposure requires only unauthenticated peer connectivity to a node with its mempool enabled; sustained traffic can drive unbounded RAM growth until swap pressure degrades the node or the operating system kills zebrad.
Summary
What happened
Memory exhaustion in Zcash Foundation Zebra before 4.5.0 allows remote attackers to interrupt node service via crafted P2P transactions. In zebrad/src/components/mempool/downloads.rs, Downloads::poll_next leaves timed-out cancel_handles entries in memory because the outer RATE_LIMIT_DELAY timeout returns tokio::time::error::Elapsed without the UnminedTxId needed to remove the retained transaction state. Exposure requires only unauthenticated peer connectivity to a node with its mempool enabled; sustained traffic can drive unbounded RAM growth until swap pressure degrades the node or the operating system kills zebrad.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-52734
- Published
- Aug 18, 2026
- Updated
- Aug 19, 2026
- Vendor
- Zcash Foundation
- Product
- Zebra
- Classifications
- CWE-401, T1499.004
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Aug 18, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Aug 19, 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?
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- Affected versionversion=< 4.5.0
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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