CVE-2026-107846
bitcoinjs-lib: Undetected merkle node duplication in block root computation validates a forged transaction list
bitcoinjs-lib is a JavaScript Bitcoin library for Node.js and browsers. From 2.3.0 until 5.2.1, 6.1.8, and 7.0.2, fastMerkleRoot pads odd Merkle-tree levels by hashing the final node with itself but does not report adjacent duplicate hashes. The affected block-root verifier was introduced as Block.checkMerkleRoot() alongside Block.calculateMerkleRoot(), while later versions expose validation through checkTxRoots() and __checkMerkleRoot; these validation paths can accept a recomputed root without checking for mutation. A peer can append duplicate transactions so a different transaction list retains the original Merkle root, block header, proof of work, and block identifier. Consumers that rely on block-root validation, including explorers, exchange indexers, or SPV clients, can process a duplicated transaction twice or blacklist the shared block hash and reject the honest block. This issue is fixed in versions 5.2.1, 6.1.8, and 7.0.2.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- Low
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- Low
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
9.3
bitcoinjs-lib: Undetected merkle node duplication in block root computation validates a forged transaction list
bitcoinjs-lib is a JavaScript Bitcoin library for Node.js and browsers. From 2.3.0 until 5.2.1, 6.1.8, and 7.0.2, fastMerkleRoot pads odd Merkle-tree levels by hashing the final node with itself but does not report adjacent duplicate hashes. The affected block-root verifier was introduced as Block.checkMerkleRoot() alongside Block.calculateMerkleRoot(), while later versions expose validation through checkTxRoots() and __checkMerkleRoot; these validation paths can accept a recomputed root without checking for mutation. A peer can append duplicate transactions so a different transaction list retains the original Merkle root, block header, proof of work, and block identifier. Consumers that rely on block-root validation, including explorers, exchange indexers, or SPV clients, can process a duplicated transaction twice or blacklist the shared block hash and reject the honest block. This issue is fixed in versions 5.2.1, 6.1.8, and 7.0.2.
- Record
CVE-2026-107846- CVSS 4.0
- 9.3 Critical
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:L/VI:H/VA:L/SC:N/SI:H/SA:H - Weakness
- CWE-354
- Updated
- 2026-11-04
EUVDEUVD-2026-117051
9.3
bitcoinjs-lib is a JavaScript Bitcoin library for Node.js and browsers. From 2.3.0 until 5.2.1, 6.1.8, and 7.0.2, fastMerkleRoot pads odd Merkle-tree levels by hashing the final node with itself but does not report adjacent duplicate hashes. The affected block-root verifier was introduced as Block.checkMerkleRoot() alongside Block.calculateMerkleRoot(), while later versions expose validation through checkTxRoots() and __checkMerkleRoot; these validation paths can accept a recomputed root without checking for mutation. A peer can append duplicate transactions so a different transaction list retains the original Merkle root, block header, proof of work, and block identifier. Consumers that rely on block-root validation, including explorers, exchange indexers, or SPV clients, can process a duplicated transaction twice or blacklist the shared block hash and reject the honest block. This issue is fixed in versions 5.2.1, 6.1.8, and 7.0.2.
- Record
EUVD-2026-117051- CVSS 4.0
- 9.3 Critical
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:L/VI:H/VA:L/SC:N/SI:H/SA:H - Updated
- 2026-11-04
NVD
9.3
bitcoinjs-lib is a JavaScript Bitcoin library for Node.js and browsers. From 2.3.0 until 5.2.1, 6.1.8, and 7.0.2, fastMerkleRoot pads odd Merkle-tree levels by hashing the final node with itself but does not report adjacent duplicate hashes. The affected block-root verifier was introduced as Block.checkMerkleRoot() alongside Block.calculateMerkleRoot(), while later versions expose validation through checkTxRoots() and __checkMerkleRoot; these validation paths can accept a recomputed root without checking for mutation. A peer can append duplicate transactions so a different transaction list retains the original Merkle root, block header, proof of work, and block identifier. Consumers that rely on block-root validation, including explorers, exchange indexers, or SPV clients, can process a duplicated transaction twice or blacklist the shared block hash and reject the honest block. This issue is fixed in versions 5.2.1, 6.1.8, and 7.0.2.
- Record
CVE-2026-107846- CVSS 4.0
- 9.3 Critical
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:L/VI:H/VA:L/SC:N/SI:H/SA:H/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X - Weakness
- CWE-354
- Updated
- 2026-11-04
OSV
9.3
bitcoinjs-lib: Undetected merkle node duplication in block root computation validates a forged transaction list
bitcoinjs-lib is a JavaScript Bitcoin library for Node.js and browsers. From 2.3.0 until 5.2.1, 6.1.8, and 7.0.2, fastMerkleRoot pads odd Merkle-tree levels by hashing the final node with itself but does not report adjacent duplicate hashes. The affected block-root verifier was introduced as Block.checkMerkleRoot() alongside Block.calculateMerkleRoot(), while later versions expose validation through checkTxRoots() and __checkMerkleRoot; these validation paths can accept a recomputed root without checking for mutation. A peer can append duplicate transactions so a different transaction list retains the original Merkle root, block header, proof of work, and block identifier. Consumers that rely on block-root validation, including explorers, exchange indexers, or SPV clients, can process a duplicated transaction twice or blacklist the shared block hash and reject the honest block. This issue is fixed in versions 5.2.1, 6.1.8, and 7.0.2.
- Record
CVE-2026-107846- CVSS 4.0
- 9.3 Critical
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:L/VI:H/VA:L/SC:N/SI:H/SA:H - Weakness
- CWE-354
- Updated
- 2026-11-05
Affected products
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| aliases, references | OSV | |
| cwes, references, severity, title | CVE List, NVD | |
| first indexed | EUVD |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2026-107846 is a critical vulnerability (CVSS 9.3) in Bitcoinjs Bitcoinjs-lib, published November 4, 2026. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.18%, the 7th percentile. No source names a fixed version.
References
github.com/bitcoinjs/bitcoinjs-lib/security/advisories/GHSA-8vv3-6qpc-gpw6
github.com/bitcoinjs/bitcoinjs-lib/commit/009f165edfbf925cad8964b2dce478d18dd19449
github.com/bitcoinjs/bitcoinjs-lib/commit/b79c7714c0687473dc6e25c69fc5fc597302c7a0
github.com/bitcoinjs/bitcoinjs-lib/commit/f3434d1e4bb5e0784fe769c4cd08a243576232a1
github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/tree/main/cves/2026/107xxx/CVE-2026-107846.json
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-107846