Answer in brief
CVE-2023-34459 records a Medium severity (CVSS 5.3) vulnerability in OpenZeppelin Contracts using MerkleProof multiproofs may allow proving arbitrary leaves for specific trees. The current sources do not mark it as known exploited. The current feed maps @openzeppelin/contracts (npm), @openzeppelin/contracts-upgradeable (npm). Check affected ranges and fixed versions before updating.
Analysis pending evidence review
HOL Guard separates source facts from reviewed analysis. See the methodology.
CVSS is 5.3. The current sources do not mark it as known exploited. Treat this as a source-backed prioritization signal, not a statement about your environment.
Analysis status
Analysis pending evidence review
Factual feed record only; HOL analysis is not approved for indexing. Read the methodology.
The current feed maps @openzeppelin/contracts (npm), @openzeppelin/contracts-upgradeable (npm). Check affected ranges and fixed versions before updating.
| Package | Affected range | Fixed version |
|---|---|---|
| @openzeppelin/contractsnpm | >=4.7.0 <4.9.2 | 4.9.2 |
| @openzeppelin/contracts-upgradeablenpm | >=4.7.0 <4.9.2 | 4.9.2 |
Published upstream
Jun 19, 2023
Evidence: source:osv:source_dates:source-dates:recordSource modified
Sep 10, 2026
Evidence: source:osv:source_dates:source-dates:recordFirst seen by HOL
Sep 10, 2026
### Impact When the `verifyMultiProof`, `verifyMultiProofCalldata`, `processMultiProof`, or `processMultiProofCalldata` functions are in use, it is possible to construct merkle trees that allow forging a valid multiproof for an arbitrary set of leaves. A contract may be vulnerable if it uses multiproofs for verification and the merkle tree that is processed includes a node with value 0 at depth 1 (just under the root). This could happen inadvertently for balanced trees with 3 leaves or less, if the leaves are not hashed. This could happen deliberately if a malicious tree builder includes such a node in the tree. A contract is not vulnerable if it uses single-leaf proving (`verify`, `verifyCalldata`, `processProof`, or `processProofCalldata`), or if it uses multiproofs with a known tree that has hashed leaves. Standard merkle trees produced or validated with the [@openzeppelin/merkle-tree](https://github.com/OpenZeppelin/merkle-tree) library are safe. ### Patches The problem has been patched in 4.9.2. ### Workarounds If you are using multiproofs: When constructing merkle trees hash the leaves and do not insert empty nodes in your trees. Using the [@openzeppelin/merkle-tree](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@openzeppelin/merkle-tree) package eliminates this issue. Do not accept user-provided merkle roots without reconstructing at least the first level of the tree. Verify the merkle tree structure by reconstructing it from the leaves.
Quoted source text, attributed separately from HOL analysis.