CVE-2018-13187 in CIBN Live Token
Summary
by MITRE
The mintToken function of a smart contract implementation for CIBN Live Token (CIBN LIVE), 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 • 02/25/2020
The vulnerability identified in CVE-2018-13187 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the mintToken function of the CIBN Live Token smart contract deployed on the Ethereum blockchain. This vulnerability stems from improper input validation and arithmetic operations that fail to account for the maximum limits of integer data types. The flaw allows an attacker with owner privileges to manipulate token balances by exploiting the overflow behavior, potentially enabling unauthorized minting of tokens or manipulation of user balances to arbitrary values. The vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and security of the token economy by undermining the fundamental principles of token distribution and user balance management.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through the mintToken function's failure to properly validate integer inputs before performing arithmetic operations. When the contract attempts to increment token balances or perform other mathematical operations, the integer overflow occurs at the boundary of the data type limits, typically 256-bit unsigned integers in Ethereum smart contracts. This overflow creates a scenario where values wrap around to unexpected states, allowing the contract owner to bypass normal balance constraints and set any user's token balance to any desired value. The vulnerability is classified as CWE-190, Integer Overflow or Wraparound, which represents a well-documented weakness in software systems where arithmetic operations exceed the maximum representable value for the data type.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple balance manipulation to potentially compromise the entire token ecosystem and user trust in the platform. An attacker with owner access can artificially inflate token supplies, manipulate market dynamics, or create fraudulent balances for specific users to gain unfair advantages. The vulnerability also poses significant risks to the token's governance structure and economic model, as it undermines the decentralized trust assumptions that users place in blockchain-based systems. The ability to set arbitrary balances means that an attacker could potentially create unlimited tokens or manipulate the distribution of existing tokens to achieve specific financial objectives, directly impacting the token's value and the security of user assets.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of comprehensive input validation and overflow protection mechanisms within the smart contract code. The solution involves implementing proper boundary checks before any arithmetic operations, using safe math libraries that prevent overflow conditions, and ensuring that all token minting functions validate inputs against maximum value limits. The recommended approach aligns with the ATT&CK framework's defensive techniques for smart contract security, specifically targeting the execution of malicious code through input validation failures. Additionally, regular security audits and formal verification of smart contract code should be implemented to identify similar vulnerabilities before deployment. The contract owner should also consider implementing multi-signature requirements for critical functions and establishing proper access controls to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities. This vulnerability underscores the critical importance of robust security practices in blockchain development and highlights the necessity of adhering to established security standards and best practices in smart contract development.