CVE-2018-13515 in aman
Summary
by MITRE
The mintToken function of a smart contract implementation for aman, 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 • 02/27/2020
The vulnerability identified in CVE-2018-13515 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the mintToken function of an Ethereum token smart contract implementation. This issue specifically affects the aman token contract and demonstrates a fundamental weakness in input validation and arithmetic operations within smart contract code. The flaw allows the contract owner to manipulate user balances arbitrarily, creating a severe security risk that undermines the integrity of the token economy and user funds.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of integer arithmetic operations within the smart contract. When the mintToken function processes token creation or distribution, it fails to validate the input parameters or perform proper overflow checks on the balance calculations. This creates an opportunity for the contract owner to exploit the vulnerability by manipulating the token minting process to set any user's balance to an arbitrary value. The integer overflow occurs because the contract does not implement bounds checking or use safe arithmetic libraries that would prevent such malicious manipulation of balance values.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple balance manipulation, creating significant risks for token holders and the broader ecosystem. An attacker with owner privileges can potentially drain funds from other users, create artificial wealth distribution, or manipulate token economics to their advantage. This vulnerability directly violates the fundamental principles of blockchain security and trustless systems, as it allows privileged actors to override the intended distribution mechanisms. The implications include potential loss of user funds, market manipulation, and erosion of confidence in the token's integrity, which can lead to substantial financial losses and reputational damage for the project.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and arithmetic safety measures within smart contract code. The recommended approach includes utilizing safe math libraries that automatically handle overflow conditions, implementing comprehensive parameter validation before any balance modifications occur, and conducting thorough code reviews with security-focused testing. Organizations should also consider implementing multi-signature ownership controls to reduce the risk associated with single points of failure, as well as regular security audits and formal verification processes to identify similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-190, Integer Overflow or Wraparound, and represents a clear violation of ATT&CK technique T1499.001, Virtual Private Cloud, as it exploits weaknesses in the digital asset management system. The remediation process must include not only fixing the immediate overflow issue but also establishing robust governance procedures to prevent similar vulnerabilities in future smart contract implementations, ensuring that all arithmetic operations are properly validated and that the principle of least privilege is maintained throughout the contract's lifecycle.