GHSA-79xg-q4qm-7v9w CWA-2025-006: wasmd's improper error handling may lead to IBC channel opening despite error

Not scored Published 11 Jun 2025

Improper error handling allows IBC channels to open despite contract errors, bypassing intended security checks in CosmWasm nodes.

Exploited in the wild: Not known
Login needed: Any signed-in user
Attackable: Over the internet
Victim action needed: Not needed
Fix: Available

What is GHSA-79xg-q4qm-7v9w?

GHSA-79xg-q4qm-7v9w is a vulnerability in github.com/CosmWasm/wasmd, published on 11 Jun 2025. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

Official description

CWA-2025-006: Improper error handling may lead to IBC channel opening despite error

Severity

High (Considerable + Likely)¹

Affected versions:

wasmd 0.60.0
wasmd >= 0.51.0 < 0.55.1

Patched versions:

wasmd 0.60.1, 0.55.1, 0.54.1, 0.53.3

Description of the bug

A contract erroring during IBC channel opening does not prevent the channel from opening.

Applying the patch

The patch will be shipped in a wasmd release. You will also have to update libwasmvm if you build statically. If you already use the latest / close to latest wasmd, you can update more or less as follows:

Check the current wasmd version: go list -m github.com/CosmWasm/wasmd
Bump the github.com/CosmWasm/wasmd dependency in your go.mod to 0.60.1 (Cosmos SDK 0.53 compatible), 0.55.1 (Cosmos SDK 0.50 compatible), 0.54.1 or 0.53.3; go mod tidy; commit.
If you use the static libraries libwasmvm_muslc.aarch64.a/libwasmvm_muslc.x86_64.a, make sure that you use the same version as your wasmvm version.
Check the updated wasmd version: go list -m github.com/CosmWasm/wasmd and ensure you see 0.60.1, 0.55.1, 0.54.1 or 0.53.3.
Follow your regular practices to deploy chain upgrades.

The patch is consensus breaking.

Acknowledgement

This problem was discovered during an audit of the CosmWasm stack performed by Sherlock and funded by ICF/ICL in Q1 2025. Thank you for that work!

If you believe you have found a bug in the Interchain Stack or would like to contribute to the program by reporting a bug, please see <https://hackerone.com/cosmos>.

Timeline

2025-03-03: Auditor informs Confio about this issue.
2025-04-10: Confio developed the patch internally.
2025-06-05: Upcoming patch is announced.
2025-06-10: Patch is released.

following Amulet's Severity Classification Framework ACMv1.2: <https://github.com/interchainio/security/blob/0295254e8645301ccb606d46108a45cede0a73e0/resources/CLASSIFICATION_MATRIX.md> ↩︎

Which versions are affected by GHSA-79xg-q4qm-7v9w?

9 open source packages ship an affected version, including github.com/CosmWasm/wasmd.

Package	Affected	Fixed in
`github.com/CosmWasm/wasmd` Go	From `0.51.0`	`0.53.3, 0.54.1, 0.55.1, 0.60.1`
`github.com/CosmWasm/wasmd` Go	From `0.51.0`	`0.53.3`
`github.com/CosmWasm/wasmd` Go	From `0.51.0`	`0.53.3`
`github.com/CosmWasm/wasmd` Go	From `0.54.0`	`0.54.1`
`github.com/CosmWasm/wasmd` Go	From `0.54.0`	`0.54.1`
`github.com/CosmWasm/wasmd` Go	From `0.55.0`	`0.55.1`

3 more packages

`github.com/CosmWasm/wasmd` Go	From `0.55.0`	`0.55.1`
`github.com/CosmWasm/wasmd` Go	From `0.60.0`	`0.60.1`
`github.com/CosmWasm/wasmd` Go	From `0.60.0`	`0.60.1`

How do I fix GHSA-79xg-q4qm-7v9w?

Upgrade github.com/CosmWasm/wasmd to a fixed version for your release line: 0.53.3, 0.54.1, 0.55.1 or 0.60.1.

Is GHSA-79xg-q4qm-7v9w being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of GHSA-79xg-q4qm-7v9w in the wild and no public exploit code.

Sources

Also known as GO-2025-3755.