Loading...
Skip to main content

GHSA-cwfq-rfcr-8hmp

CRITICAL

Zebra's Transparent SIGHASH_SINGLE Handling Diverges from zcashd for Corresponding Outputs

Published May 7, 2026Updated May 21, 2026Source: osv

Summary

# `Zebra` Transparent `SIGHASH_SINGLE` Corresponding-Output Handling Diverges From `zcashd` ### Summary For V5+ transparent spends, `Zebra` and `zcashd` disagree on the same consensus rule: `SIGHASH_SINGLE` must fail when the input index has no corresponding output. `zcashd` treats this as consensus-invalid under ZIP-244, while `Zebra`'s transparent verification path computes a digest for the missing-output case instead of failing. The result is a direct block-validity split. A malformed V5 transparent transaction can be accepted by `Zebra`, retained in `Zebra`'s mempool, selected into `Zebra` `getblocktemplate`, mined into a block, and then rejected by `zcashd`. ### Details Validated code revisions used during analysis: - `zcashd`: `2c63e9aa08cb170b0feb374161bea94720c3e1f5` - `Zebra`: `a905fa19e3a91c7b4ead331e2709e6dec5db12cb` Scope note: - earlier triage material grouped pre-V5 and V5 behavior together; - re-execution on the pinned revisions did not reproduce the claimed pre-V5 / V4 reject-side behavior; - this advisory therefore covers the V5+ / ZIP-244 variant only. `zcashd` side: - Transparent scripts in blocks are checked through `TransactionSignatureChecker::CheckSig()` and `SignatureHash()`: [`zcash/src/script/interpreter.cpp`](https://github.com/zcash/zcash/blob/2c63e9aa08cb170b0feb374161bea94720c3e1f5/src/script/interpreter.cpp#L1386-L1407). - In the ZIP-244 branch, `SignatureHash()` explicitly throws when `SIGHASH_SINGLE` or `SIGHASH_SINGLE|ANYONECANPAY` is used with `nIn >= txTo.vout.size()`: [`zcash/src/script/interpreter.cpp`](https://github.com/zcash/zcash/blob/2c63e9aa08cb170b0feb374161bea94720c3e1f5/src/script/interpreter.cpp#L1221-L1259). - `CheckSig()` catches that exception and returns `false`, causing the transparent script to fail. `Zebra` side: - V5 transparent inputs route into the same FFI-based transparent script verifier used for block validation: [`zebra/zebra-consensus/src/transaction.rs`](https://github.com/ZcashFoundation/zebra/blob/a905fa19e3a91c7b4ead331e2709e6dec5db12cb/zebra-consensus/src/transaction.rs#L989-L1098). - `Zebra` converts the decoded hash type and asks its Rust sighash engine for a digest without adding the corresponding-output pre-check that `zcashd` enforces first: [`zebra/zebra-script/src/lib.rs`](https://github.com/ZcashFoundation/zebra/blob/a905fa19e3a91c7b4ead331e2709e6dec5db12cb/zebra-script/src/lib.rs#L160-L175), [`zebra/zebra-chain/src/primitives/zcash_primitives.rs`](https://github.com/ZcashFoundation/zebra/blob/a905fa19e3a91c7b4ead331e2709e6dec5db12cb/zebra-chain/src/primitives/zcash_primitives.rs#L307-L343). - `Zebra` forwards canonical `SIGHASH_SINGLE` into the Rust ZIP-244 implementation. - In that implementation, when `input.index() >= bundle.vout.len()`, the code uses `transparent_outputs_hash::<TxOut>(&[])` instead of erroring: [`zcash_primitives/src/transaction/sighash_v5.rs`](https://github.com/zcash/librustzcash/blob/c3425f9c3c7f6deb20720bb78b18f35fbbed8edd/zcash_primitives/src/transaction/sighash_v5.rs#L101-L107), [`zcash_primitives/src/transaction/sighash_v5.rs`](https://github.com/zcash/librustzcash/blob/c3425f9c3c7f6deb20720bb78b18f35fbbed8edd/zcash_primitives/src/transaction/sighash_v5.rs#L131-L139). Why this is exploitable: - the malformed transaction only needs fewer transparent outputs than inputs; - the attacker signs the digest that `Zebra` computes for the missing-output case; - `Zebra` then sees a valid transparent signature, while `zcashd` never reaches the same digest because it fails first. Ordinary path viability: - `zcashd` ordinary mempool admission is not the practical trigger path, because the same ZIP-244 `SignatureHash()` checks fail there first: [`zcash/src/main.cpp`](https://github.com/zcash/zcash/blob/2c63e9aa08cb170b0feb374161bea94720c3e1f5/src/main.cpp#L1981-L1995), [`zcash/src/script/interpreter.cpp`](https://github.com/zcash/zcash/blob/2c63e9aa08cb170b0feb374161bea94720c3e1f5/src/script/interpreter.cpp#L1221-L1259). - `Zebra` ordinary mempool admission is viable because `Zebra` uses the same transparent verifier for mempool and block validation and does not have a separate "one output per input" standardness rule here: [`zebra/zebra-consensus/src/transaction.rs`](https://github.com/ZcashFoundation/zebra/blob/a905fa19e3a91c7b4ead331e2709e6dec5db12cb/zebra-consensus/src/transaction.rs#L414-L519), [`zebra/zebrad/src/components/mempool/storage.rs`](https://github.com/ZcashFoundation/zebra/blob/a905fa19e3a91c7b4ead331e2709e6dec5db12cb/zebrad/src/components/mempool/storage.rs#L255-L376). - `Zebra` is a block-template producer, so the realistic stock path is `Zebra` mempool -> `Zebra` `getblocktemplate` -> external miner: [`zebra/zebra-rpc/src/methods/types/get_block_template/zip317.rs`](https://github.com/ZcashFoundation/zebra/blob/a905fa19e3a91c7b4ead331e2709e6dec5db12cb/zebra-rpc/src/methods/types/get_block_template/zip317.rs#L72-L105). ### PoC Validated commits: - `zcashd`: `2c63e9aa08cb170b0feb374161bea94720c3e1f5` - `Zebra`: `a905fa19e3a91c7b4ead331e2709e6dec5db12cb` Manual reproduction steps: 1. Build an otherwise-valid V5 transaction with at least two transparent inputs and only one transparent output. 2. Sign input `0` normally. 3. Sign input `1` with canonical `SIGHASH_SINGLE` or `SIGHASH_SINGLE|ANYONECANPAY`. 4. Use the digest returned by `Zebra`'s ZIP-244 path, where the missing output contributes `transparent_outputs_hash([])`. 5. Submit the transaction to `Zebra` and to `zcashd`. 6. Observe: - `Zebra` accepts it into the mempool; - `Zebra` selects it into `getblocktemplate`; - `Zebra` can mine and accept a block containing it; - `zcashd` rejects it in the ordinary mempool path. ### Impact This is a direct V5+ transparent consensus split. Who can trigger it: - an ordinary transaction author can craft the malformed V5 transparent transaction; - the accept-side stock path is `Zebra`'s mempool and block-template path; - an external miner still has to include the transaction in a block for the split to materialize. Who is impacted: - `Zebra` can accept and template a transaction / block that `zcashd` rejects; - this makes the issue both a consensus-divergence problem and a practical `Zebra` block-template safety problem.

Remediation

Upgrade to the fixed version using your package manager.

Cargo
Update zebrad to 4.4.0 or later
cargo update -p zebrad --precise 4.4.0

After upgrading, run your dependency scanner again to confirm the vulnerability is resolved.

Affected Packages (1)

PackageEcosystemAffectedFixed In
zebrad
crates.io
All versions4.4.0

Vulnerability Classification

Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) identifiers for this vulnerability type.

CVSS Score Breakdown

What the CVSS (Common Vulnerability Scoring System) 8.6 score means for each attack dimension.

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
None
Scope
Confidentiality
Integrity
Availability

CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:H/SA:N

Frequently Asked Questions

What is GHSA-cwfq-rfcr-8hmp?
Zebra's Transparent SIGHASH_SINGLE Handling Diverges from zcashd for Corresponding Outputs This vulnerability has been assigned a severity rating of CRITICAL (CVSS score: 8.6/10).
How do I check if my project is affected by GHSA-cwfq-rfcr-8hmp?
GHSA-cwfq-rfcr-8hmp affects zebrad. Use GeekWala's free vulnerability scanner to check your dependencies against GHSA-cwfq-rfcr-8hmp and 200,000+ other known vulnerabilities.

Severity & Exploitability

CVSS Score
8.6

High exploitability or significant impact. Prioritize remediation within days.

Related CVEs

  • CVE-2026-41584
    CRITICAL

    Zebra has rk Identity Point Panic in Transaction Verification

  • CVE-2026-41583
    CRITICAL

    Zebra Vulnerable to Consensus Divergence in Transparent Sighash Hash-Type Handling

  • CVE-2026-34377
    HIGH

    Zebra has a Consensus Failure due to Improper Verification of V5 Transactions

  • CVE-2026-52736
    HIGH

    Zebra has block suppression via NU5 same-header body poisoning of sent-hash cache

  • CVE-2026-52829
    HIGH

    Zebra Address Book Aborted by IPv4-Mapped Mempool Misbehavior Update

  • CVE-2026-41585
    MEDIUM

    Zebra Vulnerable to Denial of Service via Interrupted JSON-RPC Requests from Authenticated Clients

  • CVE-2026-52733
    MEDIUM

    zebrad has persistent on-disk corruption of Sapling/Orchard subtree roots after chain fork via pop_tip

  • CVE-2026-44500
    MEDIUM

    Zebra Vulnerable to Allocation Amplification in Inbound Network Deserializers

Check if you're affected

Scan your dependencies to see if this vulnerability affects your projects.

Scan Your Dependencies