CVE-2018-17144: Bitcoin Core 0.14.x before 0.14.3, 0.15.x before 0.15.2, and 0.16.x before 0.16.3 and Bitcoin Knots 0.14.x thr

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HIGH 7.5REMOTEUPGRADEUPGRADE

CVE-2018-17144 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.5) affecting bitcoin core, bitcoin knots. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Bitcoin Core 0.14.x before 0.14.3, 0.15.x before 0.15.2, and 0.16.x before 0.16.3 and Bitcoin Knots 0.14.x through 0.16.x before 0.16.3 allow a remote denial of service (application crash) exploitable by miners via duplicate input. An attacker can make bitcoind or Bitcoin-Qt crash.

Why this priority

High severity
EPSS top 6%: very likely to be exploited
Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	7.5 (High)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	6.7% (top 6%)
CISA exploited list	No
Published	2018-09-19
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: bitcoin · bitcoinknots

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2018-09-19 08:29 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 01:45 UTCUpdated Record last modified

bitcoin bitcoin core UPGRADE

Affected: >= 0.14.0 and < 0.14.3 · >= 0.15.0 and < 0.15.2 · >= 0.16.0 and < 0.16.3

Fixed in: 0.14.3, 0.15.2, 0.16.3

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 0.14.0

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy bitcoin-core || rpm -q bitcoin-core || bitcoin-core --version

2. UPGRADE to 0.14.3 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade bitcoin-core

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade bitcoin-core

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE to a release before 0.14.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison bitcoin-core sudo apt install bitcoin-core=<VERSION_BEFORE_0.14.0> sudo apt-mark hold bitcoin-core

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list bitcoin-core sudo dnf downgrade bitcoin-core-<VERSION_BEFORE_0.14.0> sudo dnf versionlock add bitcoin-core

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

bitcoinknots bitcoin knots UPGRADE

Affected: >= 0.14.0 and < 0.16.3

Fixed in: 0.16.3

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 0.14.0

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy bitcoin-knots || rpm -q bitcoin-knots || bitcoin-knots --version

2. UPGRADE to 0.16.3 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade bitcoin-knots

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade bitcoin-knots

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE to a release before 0.14.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison bitcoin-knots sudo apt install bitcoin-knots=<VERSION_BEFORE_0.14.0> sudo apt-mark hold bitcoin-knots

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list bitcoin-knots sudo dnf downgrade bitcoin-knots-<VERSION_BEFORE_0.14.0> sudo dnf versionlock add bitcoin-knots

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2018-17144?

bitcoin core: upgrade to 0.14.3, 0.15.2, 0.16.3; bitcoin knots: upgrade to 0.16.3. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2018-17144 being exploited?

CVE-2018-17144 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2018-17144 affect?

CVE-2018-17144 affects bitcoin core, bitcoin knots. Severity is high (CVSS 7.5). Bitcoin Core 0.14.x before 0.14.3, 0.15.x before 0.15.2, and 0.16.x before 0.16.3 and Bitcoin Knots 0.14.x through 0.16.x before 0.16.3 allow a remote denial of service (application crash) exploitable by miners via duplicate input. An attac

How urgent is CVE-2018-17144?

Priority 55/100. High severity; EPSS top 6%: very likely to be exploited; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

Related CVEs

CVE-2025-54605 HIGH 7.5 UPGRADE Bitcoin Core through 29.0 allows Uncontrolled Resource Consumption (issue 2 of 2).
CVE-2025-54604 HIGH 7.5 UPGRADE Bitcoin Core through 29.0 allows Uncontrolled Resource Consumption (issue 1 of 2).
CVE-2025-46598 MEDIUM 5.3 UPGRADE Bitcoin Core through 29.0 allows a denial of service via a crafted transaction.
CVE-2025-46597 HIGH 7.5 UPGRADE Bitcoin Core 0.13.0 through 29.x has an integer overflow.
CVE-2024-55563 MEDIUM 5.3 UPGRADE Bitcoin Core through 27.2 allows transaction-relay jamming via an off-chain protocol attack, a related issue t

References

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