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CVE-2018-12018

Go Ethereum LES protocol implementation vulnerable to Denial of Service

7.5 HighPublic exploitFix available

The GetBlockHeadersMsg handler in the LES protocol implementation in Go Ethereum (aka geth) before 1.8.11 may lead to an access violation because of an integer signedness error for the array index, which allows attackers to launch a Denial of Service attack by sending a packet with a -1 query.Skip value. The vulnerable remote node would be crashed by such an attack immediately, aka the EPoD (Ethereum Packet of Death) issue.

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
None
Integrity
None
Availability
High

Exploit likelihood

4.25%Down 1.3 points since Apr 14, 2021
90%50%10%1%

What each source reports

NVD Score used 7.5

The GetBlockHeadersMsg handler in the LES protocol implementation in Go Ethereum (aka geth) before 1.8.11 may lead to an access violation because of an integer signedness error for the array index, which allows attackers to launch a Denial of Service attack by sending a packet with a -1 query.Skip value. The vulnerable remote node would be crashed by such an attack immediately, aka the EPoD (Ethereum Packet of Death) issue.

Record
CVE-2018-12018
CVSS 3.0
7.5 HighCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
CVSS 2.0
5.0 MediumAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:P
Weakness
CWE-129
Updated
2026-11-02
CVE List No score

The GetBlockHeadersMsg handler in the LES protocol implementation in Go Ethereum (aka geth) before 1.8.11 may lead to an access violation because of an integer signedness error for the array index, which allows attackers to launch a Denial of Service attack by sending a packet with a -1 query.Skip value. The vulnerable remote node would be crashed by such an attack immediately, aka the EPoD (Ethereum Packet of Death) issue.

Record
CVE-2018-12018
Updated
2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2022-4685 No score

The GetBlockHeadersMsg handler in the LES protocol implementation in Go Ethereum (aka geth) before 1.8.11 may lead to an access violation because of an integer signedness error for the array index, which allows attackers to launch a Denial of Service attack by sending a packet with a -1 query.Skip value. The vulnerable remote node would be crashed by such an attack immediately, aka the EPoD (Ethereum Packet of Death) issue.

Record
EUVD-2022-4685
Updated
2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-p5gc-957x-gfw9 7.5

Go Ethereum LES protocol implementation vulnerable to Denial of Service

The GetBlockHeadersMsg handler in the LES protocol implementation in Go Ethereum (aka geth) before 1.8.11 may lead to an access violation because of an integer signedness error for the array index, which allows attackers to launch a Denial of Service attack by sending a packet with a -1 query.Skip value. The vulnerable remote node would be crashed by such an attack immediately, aka the EPoD (Ethereum Packet of Death) issue.

Specific Go Packages Affected

github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/les

Record
GHSA-p5gc-957x-gfw9
CVSS 3.0
7.5 HighCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Weakness
CWE-129
Updated
2026-11-02
OSV 7.5

The GetBlockHeadersMsg handler in the LES protocol implementation in Go Ethereum (aka geth) before 1.8.11 may lead to an access violation because of an integer signedness error for the array index, which allows attackers to launch a Denial of Service attack by sending a packet with a -1 query.Skip value. The vulnerable remote node would be crashed by such an attack immediately, aka the EPoD (Ethereum Packet of Death) issue.

Record
CVE-2018-12018
CVSS 3.0
7.5 HighCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-p5gc-957x-gfw9 7.5

Go Ethereum LES protocol implementation vulnerable to Denial of Service

The GetBlockHeadersMsg handler in the LES protocol implementation in Go Ethereum (aka geth) before 1.8.11 may lead to an access violation because of an integer signedness error for the array index, which allows attackers to launch a Denial of Service attack by sending a packet with a -1 query.Skip value. The vulnerable remote node would be crashed by such an attack immediately, aka the EPoD (Ethereum Packet of Death) issue.

Specific Go Packages Affected

github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/les

Record
GHSA-p5gc-957x-gfw9
CVSS 3.0
7.5 HighCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Weakness
CWE-129
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVGO-2021-0075 No score

Panic due to improper validation of RPC messages in github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum

Due to improper argument validation in RPC messages, a maliciously crafted message can cause a panic, leading to denial of service.

Record
GO-2021-0075
Updated
2026-11-02

Affected products

Affected packages

Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum
Go
before 1.8.11
1.8.11

Public exploits

Links only. Every CVE stores no exploit code.

Public exploits
SourceLinkDate
PoC in GitHubk3v142/CVE-2018-120182018-10-19

History

History
RecordedChangedSources
aliasesEUVD
first indexedCVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV, PoC in GitHub

Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.

In short

CVE-2018-12018 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 7.5) in Ethereum Go Ethereum, published July 5, 2018. Public exploit code exists. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 4.25%, the 91st percentile. Fixed in github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum 1.8.11.

References

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