CVE-2026-22868: go-ethereum · Improper Input Validation
Affects go-ethereumSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.1 High : upgrade to 1.16.8 soon.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 10:12 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.6% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 49% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 1.16.8
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:NExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 13 Jan 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 26 Oct 2026.
What to do
Upgrade go-ethereum and github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum to 1.16.8.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| ethereumgo-ethereum | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Gogithub.com/ethereum/go-ethereumpkg:golang/github.com/ethereum/go-ethereumOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
AI-suggested
To mitigate CVE-2026-22868, European organizations should immediately upgrade all go-ethereum nodes to version 1.16.8 or later, where the vulnerability is fixed. Network administrators should implement strict ingress filtering to limit exposure of Ethereum nodes to untrusted networks, ideally restricting access to known peers or internal networks. Deploying Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) or network intrusion detection systems (NIDS) configured to detect anomalous Ethereum protocol messages can help identify and block exploit attempts. Regularly monitoring node logs for unusual shutdowns or crashes can provide early warning signs of exploitation. Organizations should also consider running nodes with minimal privileges and isolating them within segmented network zones to reduce potential impact. Maintaining up-to-date backups and failover nodes can ensure continuity in case of node failure. Finally, participating in Ethereum community security advisories and promptly applying patches is essential to stay protected against emerging threats.
Description
go-ethereum (geth) is a golang execution layer implementation of the Ethereum protocol. A vulnerable node can be forced to shutdown/crash using a specially crafted message. This vulnerability is fixed in 1.16.8.