Disagreement among signers

Oct 13, 2025 by talynt.org 146 views

Introduction

In the context of the Stacks network, the removal of signer vote bitmaps from transactions is a crucial step towards ensuring the integrity and security of the system. This article delves into the details of the bug fix, its context, and the technical requirements for implementation.

Description

There are two primary issues that necessitate the removal of signer vote bitmaps from transactions:

Disagreement among signers: In the early iterations of the sbtc signers, there have been instances where signers disagreed on votes due to various reasons, such as a signer not receiving another signer's votes. This discrepancy can lead to confusion and potential security risks.
Malicious signer behavior: A malicious signer can intentionally cause disagreement among other signers by manipulating their votes. This behavior can compromise the security and integrity of the Stacks network.

Context & Purpose

The primary objective of removing signer vote bitmaps from transactions is to eliminate any possibility of confusion or disagreement among signers. By doing so, we ensure that signers can rely on each other's votes when making decisions about which requests are likely to be fulfilled.

Technical Details

To implement this bug fix, the following technical requirements must be met:

Remove signer bitmap from OP_RETURN output: As part of the existing issue #1478, the signer bitmap should be removed from the OP_RETURN output. This change will help make space for withdrawal IDs and improve the overall security of the system.
Set signer bitmap to zero for all Stacks response transactions: The signer bitmap should be set to zero for all Stacks response transactions. This change will ensure that signers cannot construct different transaction sighashes based on differing views of the signers' votes.

Acceptance Criteria

To confirm that the bug fix is successful, the following acceptance criteria must be met:

No possibility of signers constructing different transaction sighashes: It should not be possible for signers to construct different transaction sighashes based on differing views of the signers' votes.

Related Issues and Pull Requests

The following issues and pull requests are related to this bug fix:

Issue #1478: This issue addresses the removal of the signer bitmap from the OP_RETURN output.
Issue #1412: This issue discusses the potential ill-definition of the signer bitmap.

By implementing this bug fix, we can ensure the security and integrity of the Stacks network by removing the possibility of confusion or disagreement among signers. The technical requirements outlined above provide a clear roadmap for implementation, and the acceptance criteria ensure that the fix is successful.

Conclusion

Introduction

In our previous article, we discussed the importance of removing signer vote bitmaps from transactions in the Stacks network. This article provides a Q&A section to address common questions and concerns related to this bug fix.

Q: What is the purpose of removing signer vote bitmaps from transactions?

A: The primary purpose of removing signer vote bitmaps from transactions is to eliminate any possibility of confusion or disagreement among signers. By doing so, we ensure that signers can rely on each other's votes when making decisions about which requests are likely to be fulfilled.

Q: How does this bug fix impact the security of the Stacks network?

A: This bug fix improves the security of the Stacks network by preventing malicious signers from causing disagreement among other signers. By removing the signer bitmap, we eliminate the possibility of signers constructing different transaction sighashes based on differing views of the signers' votes.

Q: What are the technical requirements for implementing this bug fix?

A: The technical requirements for implementing this bug fix include:

Removing the signer bitmap from the OP_RETURN output as part of the existing issue #1478.
Setting the signer bitmap to zero for all Stacks response transactions.

Q: How do I confirm that the bug fix is successful?

A: To confirm that the bug fix is successful, you should verify that the following acceptance criteria are met:

It is not possible for signers to construct different transaction sighashes based on differing views of the signers' votes.

Q: What are the related issues and pull requests for this bug fix?

A: The following issues and pull requests are related to this bug fix:

Issue #1478: This issue addresses the removal of the signer bitmap from the OP_RETURN output.
Issue #1412: This issue discusses the potential ill-definition of the signer bitmap.

Q: How does this bug fix impact the functionality of the Stacks network?

A: This bug fix does not impact the functionality of the Stacks network. It simply removes the possibility of confusion or disagreement among signers, ensuring that the network operates securely and efficiently.

Q: Can I implement this bug fix on my own?

A: Yes, you can implement this bug fix on your own. However, we recommend that you follow the technical requirements outlined above and verify that the acceptance criteria are met to ensure the success of the fix.

Conclusion

The removal of signer vote bitmaps from transactions is a critical step towards ensuring the security and integrity of the Stacks network. By understanding the context, purpose, and technical requirements of this bug fix, we can implement a solution that eliminates any possibility of confusion or disagreement among signers. The Q&A section above provides additional context and resources for implementation.

Additional Resources

For more information on this bug fix, please refer to the following resources: