CVE-2026-44714 bitcoinj: ScriptExecution P2PKH/P2WPKH Verification Bypass
Attackers can bypass local script verification for P2PKH and P2WPKH outputs by using arbitrary keypairs, undermining transaction validation integrity.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2026-44714?
CVE-2026-44714 is a high-severity authentication bypass vulnerability in bitcoinj, published on 15 May 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Official description
The bitcoinj library is a Java implementation of the Bitcoin protocol. Prior to 0.17.1, ScriptExecution.correctlySpends() contains two fast-path verification bugs for standard P2PKH and native P2WPKH spends in core/src/main/java/org/bitcoinj/script/ScriptExecution.java. In both branches, bitcoinj verifies an attacker-controlled signature/public-key pair but fails to verify that the public key is the one committed to by the output being spent. As a result, any attacker keypair can satisfy bitcoinj's local verification for arbitrary P2PKH and P2WPKH outputs. This vulnerability is fixed in 0.17.1.
Weakness: CWE-347
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-44714?
2 open source packages ship an affected version, including org.bitcoinj:bitcoinj-core.
| Package | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
org.bitcoinj:bitcoinj-core Maven | From 0.15 | 0.17.1 |
org.bitcoinj:bitcoinj-core Maven | From 0.15 | 0.17.1 |
How do I fix CVE-2026-44714?
Upgrade org.bitcoinj:bitcoinj-core to 0.17.1 or later.
Upgrade, and rotate credentials and sessions that may have been exposed. More about Authentication bypass.
Is CVE-2026-44714 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-44714 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Public exploit code: 1 proofs of concept on GitHub.
Sources
Also known as GHSA-hfcf-v2f8-x9pc.