CVE-2021-31876
MEDIUMBitcoin Core 0.12.0-0.21.1 - Denial of Service via BIP125 Replacement Policy Bypass
Title source: llmDescription
Bitcoin Core 0.12.0 through 0.21.1 does not properly implement the replacement policy specified in BIP125, which makes it easier for attackers to trigger a loss of funds, or a denial of service attack against downstream projects such as Lightning network nodes. An unconfirmed child transaction with nSequence = 0xff_ff_ff_ff, spending an unconfirmed parent with nSequence <= 0xff_ff_ff_fd, should be replaceable because there is inherited signaling by the child transaction. However, the actual PreChecks implementation does not enforce this. Instead, mempool rejects the replacement attempt of the unconfirmed child transaction.
References (5)
Core 5
Core References
Third Party Advisory x_refsource_misc
https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Common_Vulnerabilities_and_Exposures#CVE-2021-31876
Vendor Advisory x_refsource_misc
https://bitcoinops.org/en/topics/replace-by-fee/
Third Party Advisory x_refsource_misc
https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin
Mailing List, Third Party Advisory x_refsource_misc
https://lists.linuxfoundation.org/pipermail/bitcoin-dev/2021-May/018893.html
Vendor Advisory x_refsource_misc
https://bitcoinops.org/en/newsletters/2021/05/12/
Scores
CVSS v3
6.5
EPSS
0.0161
EPSS Percentile
72.9%
Attack Vector
NETWORK
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L
Details
CWE
CWE-863
Status
published
Products (1)
bitcoin/bitcoin
0.12.0 - 0.21.1
Published
May 13, 2021
Tracked Since
Feb 18, 2026