GHSA-rjjm-x32p-m3f7
gnark's range checker gadget allows wider inputs up to word alignment
GHSA-rjjm-x32p-m3f7 is a low vulnerability (CVSS 3.2) in github.com/consensys/gnark, published November 12, 2023. No source lists public exploit code. Fixed in github.com/consensys/gnark 0.9.2.
- Severity
- 3.2 LowCVSS 3.1, GitHub Advisories
- Exploit chance
- UnscoredNo EPSS score yet
- Exploitation
- None knownNot on CISA’s or ENISA’s lists
- Fixed in
0.9.2github.com/consensys/gnark +1 more
Description
Impact
gnark provides a gadget in the standard library to allow optimized checking of the bitwidth of the inputs. The gadget works by constructing a fixed lookup table containing all valid entries, partitioning the input and checking that all parts are inside the lookup table. The range checker gadget did not take into account that the highest partition may be less than the width limit, allowing the inputs to be up to 16 bits wider than checked.
Range checking gadget is extensively used in field emulation. Users using any dependant gadget (ECDSA verification, proof recursion etc.) is impacted.
We consider the impact of the vulnerability being low as the number of attacker-modifiable bits is significantly smaller compared to the bit-width of scalar field modulus and it won't be possible to construct inputs which would allow to overflow the scalar field.
Patches
The issue has been patched in the stable branch of gnark.
Due to low severity of the issue no emergency release will be issued and we follow the existing release plan. Versions v0.9.2 and higher are patched.
Workarounds
We consider the issue very hard to exploit and do not recommend manual remediation. However, it is possible to perform manual bit decomposition using std/math/bits gadget.
References
Initial issue https://github.com/Consensys/gnark/issues/897
Acknowledgement
The issue was reported by @ultrainstinct30.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Local
- Complexity
- High
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- None
- Integrity
- Low
- Availability
- None
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
github.com/consensys/gnarkGo | before 0.9.2 | 0.9.2 |
github.com/consensys/gnarkGo | before 0.9.2-0.20231110170422-f528807119e9 | 0.9.2-0.20231110170422-f528807119e9 |
What each source reports
GitHub Advisories Score used
gnark's range checker gadget allows wider inputs up to word alignment
Impact
gnark provides a gadget in the standard library to allow optimized checking of the bitwidth of the inputs. The gadget works by constructing a fixed lookup table containing all valid entries, partitioning the input and checking that all parts are inside the lookup table. The range checker gadget did not take into account that the highest partition may be less than the width limit, allowing the inputs to be up to 16 bits wider than checked.
Range checking gadget is extensively used in field emulation. Users using any dependant gadget (ECDSA verification, proof recursion etc.) is impacted.
We consider the impact of the vulnerability being low as the number of attacker-modifiable bits is significantly smaller compared to the bit-width of scalar field modulus and it won't be possible to construct inputs which would allow to overflow the scalar field.
Patches
The issue has been patched in the stable branch of gnark.
Due to low severity of the issue no emergency release will be issued and we follow the existing release plan. Versions v0.9.2 and higher are patched.
Workarounds
We consider the issue very hard to exploit and do not recommend manual remediation. However, it is possible to perform manual bit decomposition using std/math/bits gadget.
References
Initial issue https://github.com/Consensys/gnark/issues/897
Acknowledgement
The issue was reported by @ultrainstinct30.
- Record
GHSA-rjjm-x32p-m3f7- CVSS 3.1
- 3.2 Low
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
gnark's range checker gadget allows wider inputs up to word alignment
Impact
gnark provides a gadget in the standard library to allow optimized checking of the bitwidth of the inputs. The gadget works by constructing a fixed lookup table containing all valid entries, partitioning the input and checking that all parts are inside the lookup table. The range checker gadget did not take into account that the highest partition may be less than the width limit, allowing the inputs to be up to 16 bits wider than checked.
Range checking gadget is extensively used in field emulation. Users using any dependant gadget (ECDSA verification, proof recursion etc.) is impacted.
We consider the impact of the vulnerability being low as the number of attacker-modifiable bits is significantly smaller compared to the bit-width of scalar field modulus and it won't be possible to construct inputs which would allow to overflow the scalar field.
Patches
The issue has been patched in the stable branch of gnark.
Due to low severity of the issue no emergency release will be issued and we follow the existing release plan. Versions v0.9.2 and higher are patched.
Workarounds
We consider the issue very hard to exploit and do not recommend manual remediation. However, it is possible to perform manual bit decomposition using std/math/bits gadget.
References
Initial issue https://github.com/Consensys/gnark/issues/897
Acknowledgement
The issue was reported by @ultrainstinct30.
- Record
GHSA-rjjm-x32p-m3f7- CVSS 3.1
- 3.2 Low
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVGO-2023-2333No score
Range checker gadget allows wider inputs than allowed in github.com/consensys/gnark
Range checker gadget allows wider inputs than allowed in github.com/consensys/gnark
- Record
GO-2023-2333- Updated
- 2026-11-02
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| first indexed | GitHub Advisories, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.