CVE-2018-13325 in GROWCHAIN
Summary
by MITRE
The _sell function of a smart contract implementation for GROWCHAIN (GROW), an Ethereum token, has an integer overflow.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/26/2020
The vulnerability identified in CVE-2018-13325 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the smart contract implementation of GROWCHAIN (GROW) token on the Ethereum blockchain. This vulnerability specifically affects the _sell function of the contract, which is responsible for processing token sell transactions and managing the transfer of value from users to the contract. The integer overflow occurs when the contract fails to properly validate input parameters before performing arithmetic operations, creating a scenario where mathematical calculations exceed the maximum representable value for the data type being used.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking within the contract's arithmetic operations. When the _sell function processes user requests to sell tokens, it likely performs calculations involving token amounts and pricing mechanisms without adequate overflow protection. This allows an attacker to manipulate input values such that the arithmetic operations result in unexpected behavior, potentially causing the contract to behave in unintended ways. The vulnerability falls under CWE-190, which specifically addresses integer overflow and underflow conditions, making it a well-documented and dangerous class of vulnerability in smart contract development.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple transaction failures, as it can potentially allow malicious actors to manipulate token balances, extract unauthorized funds, or disrupt the normal operation of the token economy. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by submitting carefully crafted sell transactions that cause the integer overflow to produce values that bypass normal contract logic or create unexpected states within the token contract. This could result in unauthorized minting of tokens, draining of contract reserves, or manipulation of token pricing mechanisms that undermine the integrity of the entire GROWCHAIN ecosystem.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with several tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework for smart contract security, particularly those related to resource exhaustion and privilege escalation. Attackers could leverage this flaw to gain unauthorized access to contract funds or manipulate token distributions in ways that benefit the attacker while harming legitimate users. The vulnerability also represents a significant risk to the broader Ethereum ecosystem, as it demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and arithmetic operation handling in smart contract development. Organizations and developers should implement comprehensive testing procedures including formal verification and static analysis to identify similar vulnerabilities before deployment, as the irreversible nature of blockchain transactions makes post-deployment fixes extremely difficult and costly. The incident underscores the necessity of following established security guidelines and best practices for smart contract development to prevent such critical vulnerabilities from being introduced into production systems.