CVE-2026-26315

Go Ethereum Improperly Validates the ECIES Public Key in RLPx Handshake

Published Feb 19, 2026 CVSS 4.0 · 6.9 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
go-ethereum (Geth) is a golang execution layer implementation of the Ethereum protocol. Prior to version 1.16.9, through a flaw in the ECIES cryptography implementation, an attacker may be able to extract bits of the p2p node key. The issue is resolved in the v1.16.9 and v1.17.0 releases of Geth. Geth maintainers recommend rotating the node key after applying the upgrade, which can be done by removing the file `<datadir>/geth/nodekey` before starting Geth.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Github GHSA Github GHSA GHSA-m6j8-rg6r-7mv8 Go Ethereum Improperly Validates the ECIES Public Key in RLPx Handshake
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:ethereum:go_ethereum:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Metrics cvssV3_1

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

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'yes', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Ethereum
Ethereum go Ethereum
Vendors & Products Ethereum
Ethereum go Ethereum
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description go-ethereum (Geth) is a golang execution layer implementation of the Ethereum protocol. Prior to version 1.16.9, through a flaw in the ECIES cryptography implementation, an attacker may be able to extract bits of the p2p node key. The issue is resolved in the v1.16.9 and v1.17.0 releases of Geth. Geth maintainers recommend rotating the node key after applying the upgrade, which can be done by removing the file `<datadir>/geth/nodekey` before starting Geth.
Title Go Ethereum Improperly Validates the ECIES Public Key in RLPx Handshake
Weaknesses CWE-203
References
Metrics cvssV4_0

{'score': 6.9, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:L/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
GitHub_M
Published
Updated
Feb 20, 2026, 3:42 PM
Reserved
Feb 13, 2026, 4:27 PM
Status
Analyzed
Published
Feb 19, 2026, 10:16 PM
Modified
Jun 17, 2026, 10:26 AM