CVE-2025-48886
BaseFortify
Publication date: 2025-06-19
Last updated on: 2025-06-23
Assigner: GitHub, Inc.
Description
Description
CVSS Scores
EPSS Scores
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Meta Information
Affected Vendors & Products
Helpful Resources
Exploitability
| CWE ID | Description |
|---|---|
| CWE-755 | The product does not handle or incorrectly handles an exceptional condition. |
Attack-Flow Graph
AI Powered Q&A
Can you explain this vulnerability to me?
This vulnerability affects the Hydra node software used for scaling Cardano Layer 1. Hydra assumes that events on Cardano L1 are finalized as soon as they are recognized by node participants, without accounting for blockchain reorganizations (re-orgs). This can cause Hydra to treat deposit transactions as finalized when they might later be invalidated by a re-org, leading to desynchronization and malfunction of Hydra nodes. Additionally, Hydra does not properly handle failed transactions that appear in blocks, which can be exploited to manipulate off-chain metrics or inflate DeFi statistics, potentially enabling social attacks. The issue arises from premature finality assumptions and improper handling of failed transactions, and it has been patched in version 0.22.0. [1]
How can this vulnerability impact me? :
The vulnerability can cause Hydra head participants to become desynchronized due to re-org attacks invalidating deposit transactions that Hydra assumed finalized. This desynchronization can lead to stale or non-functional Hydra deployments. Additionally, failed transactions that are not properly discarded can be exploited to manipulate off-chain metrics or inflate DeFi protocol statistics, potentially leading to social attacks on protocols relying on Hydra. Overall, the impact includes integrity issues in the Hydra state and potential disruption of services relying on accurate state progression. [1]
How can this vulnerability be detected on my network or system? Can you suggest some commands?
This vulnerability can be detected by monitoring Hydra node behavior for signs of desynchronization or inconsistent state progression related to deposit transactions. Specifically, look for Hydra nodes that mark deposits as finalized immediately upon recognition without waiting for blockchain finality, which can lead to re-org attacks. Detection involves checking logs or metrics for deposit transactions that were invalidated by chain reorganizations or failed transactions that were incorrectly processed. While no specific commands are provided in the resources, monitoring Hydra node logs for deposit handling and re-org events is recommended. Additionally, verifying that the Hydra node version is prior to 0.22.0 can help identify vulnerable instances. [1]
What immediate steps should I take to mitigate this vulnerability?
Immediate mitigation steps include upgrading Hydra to version 0.22.0 or later, where the vulnerability is patched. The patch introduces a waiting period ('timeToProbabilisticFinality') after observing a deposit before acting on it, allowing confirmation of deposit permanence on the canonical chain. Additionally, Hydra now verifies that observed transactions actually progress the ledger state and discards failed transactions to prevent inconsistencies. If upgrading is not immediately possible, implementing a manual waiting period before processing deposits and carefully monitoring for re-org events can reduce risk. Reviewing and applying the timing and deadline adjustments described in the patch (such as dynamic deposit and contestation periods based on block time) can also help mitigate the issue. [1, 3]