Summary
OpenVM allows the byte decomposition of pc in AUIPC chip to overflow
The fix to https://cantina.xyz/code/c486d600-bed0-4fc6-aed1-de759fd29fa2/findings/21 has a typo that still results in the highest limb of pc being range checked to 8-bits instead of 6-bits.
In the AIR, we do https://github.com/openvm-org/openvm/blob/0f94c8a3dfa7536c1231465d1bdee5fc607a5993/extensions/rv32im/circuit/src/auipc/core.rs#L135
for (i, limb) in pc_limbs.iter().skip(1).enumerate() {
if i == pc_limbs.len() - 1 {
It should be
for (i, limb) in pc_limbs.iter().enumerate().skip(1) {
Right now the if statement is never triggered because the enumeration gives i=0,1,2 when we instead want i=1,2,3. What this means is that pc_limbs[3] is range checked to 8-bits instead of 6-bits.
This leads to a vulnerability where the pc_limbs decomposition differs from the true pc, which means a malicious prover can make the destination register take a different value than the AUIPC instruction dictates, by making the decomposition overflow the BabyBear field.
Impact
Affected versions
Security releases
Kodem intelligence
Severity tells you how bad this could be in the worst case. It does not tell you whether you are exposed. Exploitability and impact are functions of runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A vulnerable package can sit in your dependency tree and never run.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What is CVE-2025-46723? CVE-2025-46723 is a high-severity security vulnerability in openvm (rust), affecting versions = 1.0.0. It is fixed in 1.1.0.
- Which versions of openvm are affected by CVE-2025-46723? openvm (rust) versions = 1.0.0 is affected.
- Is there a fix for CVE-2025-46723? Yes. CVE-2025-46723 is fixed in 1.1.0. Upgrade to this version or later.
- Is CVE-2025-46723 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2025-46723 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk. Get a demo
- What actually determines whether CVE-2025-46723 is exploitable, and how bad it is? Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.
- How do I fix CVE-2025-46723? Upgrade
openvmto 1.1.0 or later.