Summary
ASA-2024-002: Default PrepareProposalHandler may produce invalid proposals when used with default SenderNonceMempool
ASA-2024-002: Default PrepareProposalHandler may produce invalid proposals when used with default SenderNonceMempool
Component: Cosmos SDK
Criticality: Medium
Affected Versions: Cosmos SDK versions <= 0.50.3; <= 0.47.8
Affected Users: Chain developers, Validator and Node operators
Impact: Denial of Service
When using the default PrepareProposalHandler and the default SenderNonceMempool, an issue was identified which may allow invalid blocks to be proposed when a single sender includes multiple transactions with non-sequential sequence numbers in certain conditions. If this state is reached, it can lead to a reduction in block production for a network.
Next Steps for Impacted Parties
If you are a chain developer on an affected version of the Cosmos SDK, it is advised to update to the latest available version of the Cosmos SDK for your project. Once a patched version is available, it is recommended that network operators upgrade.
A Github Security Advisory for this issue is available in the Cosmos-SDK repository. For more information about Cosmos SDK, see https://docs.cosmos.network/.
This issue was found by KonradStaniec, gitferry, SebastianElvis, and vitsalis who reported it to the Cosmos Bug Bounty Program on HackerOne on January 16, 2024. If you believe you have found a bug in the Interchain Stack or would like to contribute to the program by reporting a bug, please see https://hackerone.com/cosmos.
Impact
GHSA-2557-X9MG-76W8 has a CVSS score of 5.3 (Medium). The vector is network-reachable, no privileges required, and no user interaction. A CVSS score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether this affects your application depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable in your environment. A fixed version is available (0.50.4, 0.47.9); upgrading removes the vulnerable code path.
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.
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. Kodem's runtime-powered SCA identifies whether this CVE is reachable in your applications.
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See it in your environmentNew to Kodem? Get a demo →Remediation advice
github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk to 0.50.4 or later; github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk to 0.47.9 or later
Kodem Kai can prioritize this vulnerability in your dependency tree and generate a fix recommendation.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is GHSA-2557-X9MG-76W8? GHSA-2557-X9MG-76W8 is a medium-severity security vulnerability in github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk (go), affecting versions >= 0.50.0, <= 0.50.3. It is fixed in 0.50.4, 0.47.9.
- How severe is GHSA-2557-X9MG-76W8? GHSA-2557-X9MG-76W8 has a CVSS score of 5.3 (Medium). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.
- Which versions of github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk are affected by GHSA-2557-X9MG-76W8? github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk (go) versions >= 0.50.0, <= 0.50.3 is affected.
- Is there a fix for GHSA-2557-X9MG-76W8? Yes. GHSA-2557-X9MG-76W8 is fixed in 0.50.4, 0.47.9. Upgrade to this version or later.
- Is GHSA-2557-X9MG-76W8 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether GHSA-2557-X9MG-76W8 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 GHSA-2557-X9MG-76W8 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 GHSA-2557-X9MG-76W8?
- Upgrade
github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdkto 0.50.4 or later - Upgrade
github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdkto 0.47.9 or later
- Upgrade