CVE-2018-13082 in MODI Token
Summary
by MITRE
The mintToken function of a smart contract implementation for MODI Token (MODI), an Ethereum token, has an integer overflow that allows the owner of the contract to set the balance of an arbitrary user to any value.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/24/2020
The vulnerability identified in CVE-2018-13082 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the mintToken function of the MODI Token smart contract implementation on the Ethereum blockchain. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and arithmetic overflow handling within the contract's token minting mechanism, creating a fundamental security weakness that directly impacts the contract's integrity and user asset protection. The flaw allows the contract owner to manipulate token balances in ways that could lead to unauthorized minting and distribution of tokens.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the mintToken function's failure to properly validate integer inputs when calculating new token balances. When the contract processes token minting operations, it performs arithmetic operations without sufficient overflow checks that would normally prevent values from exceeding the maximum limits of the integer data types used. This allows an attacker with owner privileges to manipulate the underlying calculations and effectively set any user's balance to arbitrary values, including potentially unlimited amounts. The vulnerability specifically relates to CWE-191, which describes integer underflow/overflow issues in software implementations.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability creates significant risks for token holders and the broader ecosystem that relies on the MODI Token. The contract owner can manipulate balances to create infinite token supply, potentially leading to severe economic disruption and loss of value for legitimate token holders. The impact extends beyond simple balance manipulation as it fundamentally undermines the trust model that blockchain tokens depend upon, allowing for potential theft of funds and manipulation of token economics. The vulnerability also enables the owner to grant themselves excessive token holdings that could be used for market manipulation or other malicious activities.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with several ATT&CK framework techniques including T1059 for command and control through contract manipulation and T1499 for data manipulation through unauthorized balance changes. Organizations and individuals should implement immediate mitigations including contract audits, deployment of patched versions, and potentially hard forks to address the vulnerability. The recommended approach involves adding proper integer overflow checks, implementing comprehensive input validation, and ensuring that all arithmetic operations within smart contracts include appropriate boundary checks. Additionally, contract owners should consider implementing multi-signature controls and regular security audits to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future smart contract deployments. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of rigorous security testing and formal verification approaches when developing smart contracts for blockchain platforms.