Summary
ASA-2024-004: Default configuration param for Evidence may limit window of validity
ASA-2024-004: Default configuration param for Evidence may limit window of validity
Component: CometBFT
Criticality: Low
Affected versions: All
Affected users: Validators, Chain Builders + Maintainers
A default configuration in CometBFT has been found to be small for common use cases, and may prevent the slashing mechanism from working in specific cases. The default values for EvidenceParams.MaxAgeNumBlocks and EvidenceParams.MaxAgeDuration consensus parameters may not be sufficient for common use cases to provide coverage for the entire unbonding period for a chain (Staking.UnbondingTime). If the conditions of both of these parameters are exceeded, evidence may be prematurely expired and considered no longer valid, potentially allowing for unpunished Byzantine behavior if evidence is discovered outside of that window.
Next Steps for Chains and Validators
It is recommended that chain ecosystems and their maintainers set the consensus parameters EvidenceParams.MaxAgeNumBlocks and EvidenceParams.MaxAgeDuration to values appropriate for their use case:
EvidenceParams.MaxAgeDuration(set in nanoseconds) should exceed the duration of the chain’s unbonding periodEvidenceParams.MaxAgeNumBlocksshould exceed the number of estimated blocks that will be produced by your chain throughout the unbonding period
For more information about evidence in CometBFT, please see: https://docs.cometbft.com/v0.37/spec/consensus/evidence.
For more information about the cosmos-sdk x/staking and x/slashing modules, and UnbondingTime parameter, please see: https://docs.cosmos.network/v0.50/build/modules/staking and https://docs.cosmos.network/v0.50/build/modules/slashing.
CometBFT is designed to be configurable by chains, and implements many different configuration variables and parameters to allow chain developers, validators, node operators, and chain participants to customize it best to their use case.
As more chains adopt the Interchain Stack for new and cutting-edge use cases, the CometBFT team recommends that all chains regularly evaluate their consensus parameters and configurations to ensure they meet the needs of their ecosystem as their networks mature.
A Github Security Advisory for this issue is available in the CometBFT repository. For more information about CometBFT, see https://docs.cometbft.com/.
This issue was reported to the Cosmos Bug Bounty Program on HackerOne on February 15, 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
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.
Already deployed Kodem?
See it in your environmentNew to Kodem? Get a demo →Remediation advice
Kodem Kai can prioritize this vulnerability in your dependency tree and generate a fix recommendation.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is GHSA-555P-M4V6-CQXV? GHSA-555P-M4V6-CQXV is a low-severity security vulnerability in github.com/cometbft/cometbft (go), affecting versions <= 0.38.5. No fixed version is listed yet.
- Which versions of github.com/cometbft/cometbft are affected by GHSA-555P-M4V6-CQXV? github.com/cometbft/cometbft (go) versions <= 0.38.5 is affected.
- Is there a fix for GHSA-555P-M4V6-CQXV? No fixed version is listed for GHSA-555P-M4V6-CQXV yet. Monitor the advisory for updates and apply mitigations in the interim.
- Is GHSA-555P-M4V6-CQXV exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether GHSA-555P-M4V6-CQXV 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-555P-M4V6-CQXV 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.