CVE-2018-13476 in PhilCoin
Summary
by MITRE
The mintToken function of a smart contract implementation for PhilCoin, 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 • 02/26/2020
The vulnerability identified in CVE-2018-13476 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the mintToken function of the PhilCoin Ethereum smart contract implementation. 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 the contract owner to manipulate token balances by exploiting the overflow condition, effectively enabling arbitrary balance manipulation. The technical nature of this vulnerability places it squarely within the scope of CWE-190, which specifically addresses integer overflow conditions, and CWE-191, which covers integer underflow conditions that often manifest similarly in blockchain environments. The vulnerability's classification aligns with ATT&CK technique T1211, which involves privilege escalation through manipulation of system processes or data structures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple balance manipulation to encompass potential financial loss and contract integrity compromise. An attacker with owner privileges can set any user's balance to an arbitrary value, including negative balances or values exceeding the maximum integer limit. This creates a scenario where the attacker can effectively mint unlimited tokens or drain funds from other users' accounts. The vulnerability's exploitation requires only the owner's private key, making it particularly dangerous as it leverages existing administrative privileges rather than requiring complex external attacks. The implications for tokenomics are severe, as the fundamental principle of token scarcity and fair distribution becomes compromised. The vulnerability also affects the contract's overall trust model, as users cannot rely on the accuracy of their token balances.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both the immediate technical flaw and the broader security posture of the smart contract. The primary fix involves implementing proper integer overflow checks using modern Solidity practices such as SafeMath library implementation or utilizing newer compiler versions with built-in overflow protection. The contract owner should also implement comprehensive input validation and boundary checks before performing any arithmetic operations on token balances. Additionally, regular security audits and formal verification of smart contract code should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities. The implementation of access control mechanisms and multi-signature requirements for administrative functions can reduce the risk of unauthorized exploitation. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect unusual balance changes or minting activities that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's remediation aligns with industry best practices outlined in the Ethereum Smart Contract Security Best Practices guidelines and the OpenZeppelin security recommendations for contract development.