CVE-2026-26315: github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum fixed in 1.16.9

CVE-2026-26315 PUBLISHED CVSS 6.9 MEDIUM

Go Ethereum Improperly Validates the ECIES Public Key in RLPx Handshake

Reported by github_m · Published February 19, 2026

github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum is fixed in 1.16.9 (Go Modules)

go-ethereum (Geth) is a golang execution layer implementation of the Ethereum protocol. Prior to version 1.16.9, through a flaw in the ECIES cryptography implementation, an attacker may be able to extract bits of the p2p node key. The issue is resolved in the v1.16.9 and v1.17.0 releases of Geth. Geth maintainers recommend rotating the node key after applying the upgrade, which can be done by removing the file `<datadir>/geth/nodekey` before starting Geth.

Fixed versions

Upgrade to a fixed version or later. Language registries are listed first, then Linux distributions, then vendor products.

Package	Ecosystem	Fixed in
github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum	Go Modules	1.16.9
geth	Alpine	1.17.0-r0

Risk scores

CVSS 4.0

6.9

CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:L/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Affected products

Vendor	Product	Versions
ethereum	go-ethereum	< 1.16.9
alpine	geth	0
ethereum	go-ethereum	0
github.com	ethereum/go-ethereum	0

Timeline

Feb 18, 2026 CVE Published
Feb 20, 2026 EPSS Score (30 in total, the first dated here)
Feb 20, 2026 CVE Updated
Mar 17, 2026 Security Advisory
Mar 22, 2026 Coalition ESS Score (2 in total, the first dated here)

Query this with the API

The same record, from the CLI:

vulnetix vdb vuln CVE-2026-26315
vulnetix vdb fixes CVE-2026-26315

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curl -s -H "Authorization: ApiKey ${VULNETIX_ORG_ID}:${VULNETIX_API_KEY}" \
  "https://api.vdb.vulnetix.com/v2/vuln/CVE-2026-26315/fixes/registry"

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References

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