Description
Nimiq is a Rust implementation of the Nimiq Proof-of-Stake protocol based on the Albatross consensus algorithm. Through 1.5.0, the validity store uses a strict lower-bound comparison that expires a stored transaction too early relative to Transaction::is_valid_at, allowing a remote attacker to replay the same signed transaction during a blocks_per_batch minus one block window and cause the sender and recipient balances to be updated twice. This issue is fixed in version 1.5.1.
Published: 2026-08-26
Score: 7.5 High
EPSS: n/a
KEV: No
Impact: n/a
Action: n/a
AI Analysis

Impact

Nimiq, a Rust-based implementation of the Nimiq Proof‑of‑Stake protocol, contains an off‑by‑one error in its validity store logic that expires stored transactions earlier than intended. This flaw permits a remote actor to replay a signed transaction within a one‑block window, causing the sender and recipient balances to be updated twice. The resulting double‑spend effect undermines transaction integrity, leading to financial loss and ledger inconsistency.

Affected Systems

The vulnerability affects the Nimiq core‑rs‑albatross product, specifically version 1.5.0 delivered by the Nimiq vendor. The issue was resolved in version 1.5.1, so any node running 1.5.0 or older is at risk while those on 1.5.1 or later are no longer vulnerable.

Risk and Exploitability

The CVSS score of 7.5 indicates a medium‑to‑high risk, and EPSS data is not available, so an exact exploit probability cannot be established. The vulnerability is not listed in CISA’s KEV catalog, but it can be exploited by any external participant who can submit a transaction into the network while the replay window remains open. Because the flaw requires only the ability to send transactions, no local privilege or special credentials are necessary.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on August 26, 2026 at 21:21 UTC.

Remediation

No vendor fix or workaround currently provided.

OpenCVE Recommended Actions

  • Apply version 1.5.1 or later upgrade of Nimiq core-rs-albatross.
  • Ensure all running nodes use at least version 1.5.1 to prevent replay windows.
  • Monitor for repeated balance changes and log any attempt to process the same transaction twice.
  • If an upgrade cannot be performed immediately, consider temporarily lowering the blocks_per_batch parameter to 2 to shrink the replay window.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on August 26, 2026 at 21:21 UTC.

Tracking

Sign in to view the affected projects.

Advisories
Source ID Title
Github GHSA Github GHSA GHSA-3763-qp59-59vf nimiq-blockchain: Validity store off by one error
History

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 21:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Nimiq
Nimiq core-rs-albatross
Vendors & Products Nimiq
Nimiq core-rs-albatross

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 20:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Nimiq is a Rust implementation of the Nimiq Proof-of-Stake protocol based on the Albatross consensus algorithm. Through 1.5.0, the validity store uses a strict lower-bound comparison that expires a stored transaction too early relative to Transaction::is_valid_at, allowing a remote attacker to replay the same signed transaction during a blocks_per_batch minus one block window and cause the sender and recipient balances to be updated twice. This issue is fixed in version 1.5.1.
Title Nimiq: Validity store off by one error
Weaknesses CWE-193
CWE-294
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N'}


Subscriptions

Nimiq Core-rs-albatross
cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: GitHub_M

Published:

Updated: 2026-08-26T19:32:46.025Z

Reserved: 2026-05-13T19:53:47.920Z

Link: CVE-2026-46369

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-08-26T20:17:23.163

Modified: 2026-08-26T20:17:23.163

Link: CVE-2026-46369

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-08-26T21:30:12Z

Weaknesses
  • CWE-193

    Off-by-one Error

  • CWE-294

    Authentication Bypass by Capture-replay