Ethereum Got Update Bug: A Blockchain Synchronization Problem
Geth v1.10.8 was released to fix the security vulnerability of the program. However, no all nodes are updated as fast as they can. Only 29.2% of nodes have been updated.
Will this bug cause the network to be attacked? Let’s find out here. Before we do, we may want to clear some technical terms.
What is Geth?
It is short for Go Ethereum, one of the three original implementations of the Ethereum protocol that is written in Go. Go is a programming language.
What are implementations?
There are codes that make things function. Similar to the camera which takes pictures, implementations doing the code that suppose to do.
What is a protocol?
Protocols are basic sets of rules that allow data to be shared between computers. For cryptos, they are rules established to function a blockchain that distributed data in certain ways.
What does Geth do?
Geth is some functionality that uses codes to do something for data in the Ethereum blockchain such as improve security vulnerability.
What is CVE?
It is a concept of a Common Vulnerability Enumeration (CVE) that runs by the MITRE Corporation, an independent, not-for-profit company, working in the public interest that particularly focuses on cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
What is CVE-2021-39137?
It is a cybersecurity vulnerability relate to Go Ethereum that could cause a chain split.
What is NVD?
It is a National Vulnerability Database to record cybersecurity vulnerabilities for the public to reference.
What is the relationship between CVE and NVD?
They are working together to provide guidance to the public. CVE will list the problem to NVD so that NVD will provide analysis.
NVD score of CVE-2021-39137
CVSS Base Score: 6.5
Impact Subscore: 3.6
Exploitability Subscore: 2.8
You can read the guideline here for the above score means but basically, the score shows severity but not to predict risks.
Foreseeable risk
You may find some important information that guides us to predict the risk. It may cause a node to no longer being able to process the chain of a so-called chain split.
What is a chain split?
It usually happens in forks which means some nodes will implement their own protocols away from the parent coin such as Ethereum and Ethereum Classic.
The risk of the Eteherum network
There you have it! It will cause the Ethereum network to unintentionally forks and turn into another unknown coin.
It will impact the Ethereum blockchain process and some of the users may lose their coins.
Solution
We just have to wait and see but do not use Ethereum for a while in case your coins got the loss.
In conclusion
I hope I make a clear explanation about this issue. It is serious but it happened.