CVE-2018-10299 in Beauty Ecosystem Coin
Summary
by MITRE
An integer overflow in the batchTransfer function of a smart contract implementation for Beauty Ecosystem Coin (BEC), the Ethereum ERC20 token used in the Beauty Chain economic system, allows attackers to accomplish an unauthorized increase of digital assets by providing two _receivers arguments in conjunction with a large _value argument, as exploited in the wild in April 2018, aka the "batchOverflow" issue. NOTE: the OKEx exchange suspended BEC trading as of 2018-04-22; however, the integer overflow in this codebase can still be exploited through transactions involving other exchanges and/or other tokens.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/05/2024
The CVE-2018-10299 vulnerability represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the batchTransfer function of the Beauty Ecosystem Coin (BEC) smart contract implementation. This vulnerability specifically targets the Ethereum-based ERC20 token system that forms part of the Beauty Chain economic framework, making it a significant concern for blockchain security and digital asset management. The flaw manifests when attackers exploit the interaction between two _receivers arguments and a large _value argument, creating conditions where the mathematical overflow results in unintended asset manipulation. The vulnerability was actively exploited in the wild during April 2018, demonstrating its real-world impact and the urgent need for smart contract security auditing.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and arithmetic operations within the batchTransfer function. When the contract processes multiple receiver addresses in a single transaction while simultaneously handling a large value parameter, the integer overflow occurs during the calculation of the total amount to be transferred. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-190, which specifically addresses integer overflow and underflow conditions, and represents a classic example of how insufficient boundary checking can lead to severe financial consequences in blockchain environments. The flaw exploits the fundamental mathematical properties of integer arithmetic, where operations exceeding maximum value limits cause wraparound behavior that attackers can manipulate for unauthorized asset increases.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond the immediate financial loss experienced by the BEC token holders and exchanges. The attack vector demonstrates how smart contract vulnerabilities can be weaponized through transactional manipulation, where attackers leverage the specific interaction patterns between function parameters to achieve unauthorized increases in their digital asset holdings. The fact that OKEx suspended BEC trading in April 2018 highlights the market response to such vulnerabilities and the broader implications for cryptocurrency exchanges and token ecosystems. This incident also underscores the interconnected nature of blockchain systems, where vulnerabilities in one token implementation can potentially affect trading dynamics across multiple exchanges and platforms, as noted in the vulnerability description.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-10299 require comprehensive smart contract security auditing and implementation of proper integer overflow protection mechanisms. The recommended approach involves incorporating explicit bounds checking and validation of input parameters before arithmetic operations, utilizing safe math libraries that prevent overflow conditions, and implementing thorough testing procedures including fuzz testing and formal verification methods. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques involving smart contract exploitation and transaction manipulation, emphasizing the need for defensive programming practices and robust contract verification processes. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring systems that can detect anomalous transaction patterns and parameter combinations that might indicate exploitation attempts, while maintaining up-to-date security protocols to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future smart contract deployments.