Description
Zebra before 6.1.0 contains an inefficient algorithmic complexity vulnerability in remaining_transaction_value that clones the entire block-level spent-UTXO map per transaction during contextual verification. Attackers can mine or seed the mempool with roughly 26,000 minimal single-input transactions in one block, stalling every validating node for over 52 seconds.
Published: 2026-10-02
Score: 8.2 High
EPSS: < 1% Very Low
KEV: No
Impact: Denial of Service
Action: Patch
AI Analysis

Impact

Zebra contains an inefficient algorithmic complexity flaw in the remaining_transaction_value component that clones the entire block‑level spent‑UTXO map for each transaction during contextual verification, resulting in quadratic behavior that can be triggered by submitting a block with many minimal single‑input transactions. The advisory indicates that an attacker can mine or seed the mempool with roughly 26,000 minimal transactions in one block, stalling every validating node for over 52 seconds.

Affected Systems

The Zebra blockchain node software from the Zcash Foundation, in all releases before version 6.1.0, is affected.

Risk and Exploitability

The high CVSS score of 8.2 and the lack of an EPSS score indicate a serious risk; the issue is exposed during block validation, meaning that any Zebra validator that accepts arbitrary blocks is susceptible. Attackers can engineer a block containing roughly 26,000 minimal single‑input transactions to trigger the quadratic algorithmic cost, overwhelming a node’s CPU for approximately 52 seconds per block. Since the vulnerability is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog, it is not currently known to be actively exploited in the wild, but the feasibility of constructing such blocks gives attackers a viable DoS vector.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on October 2, 2026 at 14:23 UTC.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record.

OpenCVE Recommended Actions

  • Upgrade Zebra to version 6.1.0 or later, which removes the quadratic complexity by no longer cloning the spent‑UTXO map for each transaction.
  • If an upgrade is not possible, configure your node to enforce a per‑block transaction‑count limit or reject blocks that exceed a safe threshold for transaction processing time.
  • Monitor node performance metrics and block‑rejection logs for unusually long processing times or a sudden influx of many small transactions, as indicators of a potential DoS attempt.
  • Apply any P2P network‑level rate limiting or trust‑based block acceptance policies consistent with Zcash Foundation guidance to reduce the likelihood of a successful injection.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on October 2, 2026 at 14:23 UTC.

Tracking

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Advisories

No advisories yet.

History

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 16:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}


Fri, 02 Oct 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Zcashfoundation
Zcashfoundation zebra
Vendors & Products Zcashfoundation
Zcashfoundation zebra

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 11:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Zebra before 6.1.0 contains an inefficient algorithmic complexity vulnerability in remaining_transaction_value that clones the entire block-level spent-UTXO map per transaction during contextual verification. Attackers can mine or seed the mempool with roughly 26,000 minimal single-input transactions in one block, stalling every validating node for over 52 seconds.
Title Zebra before 6.1.0 Quadratic Complexity DoS via Block Transparent Value Check
First Time appeared Zfnd
Zfnd zebra
Weaknesses CWE-407
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:zfnd:zebra:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Zfnd
Zfnd zebra
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.9, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

cvssV4_0

{'score': 8.2, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:H/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N'}


cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: VulnCheck

Published:

Updated: 2026-10-02T15:18:42.536Z

Reserved: 2026-10-02T00:46:23.830Z

Link: CVE-2026-104426

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-10-02T15:18:37.122Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Deferred

Published: 2026-10-02T12:17:12.887

Modified: 2026-10-02T17:59:09.430

Link: CVE-2026-104426

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-10-02T14:30:24Z

Weaknesses
  • CWE-407

    Inefficient Algorithmic Complexity