Vulnerability · Published Jun 24, 2025 · Assigned by GitHub_M
CVE-2025-52884risc0-ethereum-contracts allows invalid commitment with digest value of zero to be accepted by Steel.validateCommitment
Low 1.7
In plain English
A low-severity security flaw in risc0-ethereum from risc0. Proof-of-concept exploit code is public. The chance it is exploited in the next 30 days is estimated at 0.4% (higher than 36% of all known vulnerabilities).
Official description
RISC Zero is a zero-knowledge verifiable general computing platform, with Ethereum integration. The risc0-ethereum repository contains Solidity verifier contracts, Steel EVM view call library, and supporting code. Prior to versions 2.1.1 and 2.2.0, the `Steel.validateCommitment` Solidity library function will return `true` for a crafted commitment with a digest value of zero. This violates the semantics of `validateCommitment`, as this does not commitment to a block that is in the current chain. Because the digest is zero, it does not correspond to any block and there exist no known openings. As a result, this commitment will never be produced by a correct zkVM guest using Steel and leveraging this bug to compromise the soundness of a program using Steel would require a separate bug or misuse of the Steel library, which is expected to be used to validate the root of state opening proofs. A fix has been released as part of `risc0-ethereum` 2.1.1 and 2.2.0. Users for the `Steel` Solidity library versions 2.1.0 or earlier should ensure they are using `Steel.validateCommitment` in tandem with zkVM proof verification of a Steel program, as shown in the ERC-20 counter example, and documentation. This is the correct usage of Steel, and users following this pattern are not at risk, and do not need to take action. Users not verifying a zkVM proof of a Steel program should update their application to do so, as this is incorrect usage of Steel.
Affected products (as reported)
| Vendor | Product | Versions |
|---|---|---|
| risc0 | risc0-ethereum | < 2.1.1 |
Weakness: CWE-159 · Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:H/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:U
References
- https://github.com/risc0/risc0-ethereum/security/advisories/GHSA-gjv3-89hh-9xq2 x_refsource_CONFIRM
- https://github.com/risc0/risc0-ethereum/pull/605 x_refsource_MISC
- https://github.com/risc0/risc0-ethereum/commit/3bbac859c7132b21ba5fdf2d47f1dd52e7e73d98 x_refsource_MISC
- https://docs.beboundless.xyz/developers/steel/how-it-works#verifying-the-proof-onchain x_refsource_MISC
- https://github.com/risc0/risc0-ethereum/blob/ff0cb9253a87945b653b825711b8b5075f8b7545/examples/erc20-counter/contracts/src/Counter.sol#L56-L63 x_refsource_MISC
- https://github.com/risc0/risc0-ethereum/releases/tag/v2.1.1 x_refsource_MISC
- https://github.com/risc0/risc0-ethereum/releases/tag/v2.2.0 x_refsource_MISC