CVE-2018-13607 in ResidualShare
Summary
by MITRE
The mintToken function of a smart contract implementation for ResidualShare, 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 • 02/28/2020
The vulnerability identified in CVE-2018-13607 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the mintToken function of the ResidualShare Ethereum token smart contract implementation. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and arithmetic overflow handling within the smart contract code, creating a scenario where the contract owner can manipulate user balances arbitrarily. The issue manifests when the mintToken function processes token minting operations without proper bounds checking on the amount parameter, allowing for potential exploitation through crafted input values that exceed the maximum representable value for the data type used.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of integer arithmetic operations within the smart contract's mintToken function. When an attacker or contract owner provides a value that causes an integer overflow, the resulting behavior can be leveraged to set any user's token balance to an arbitrary value. This flaw directly maps to CWE-190, Integer Overflow or Wraparound, which is a well-documented weakness in software systems where arithmetic operations exceed the maximum value that can be represented by the underlying data type. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows for unauthorized balance manipulation that can affect the entire token ecosystem and potentially lead to theft of funds or disruption of token functionality.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple balance manipulation to potentially compromise the entire integrity and security of the ResidualShare token system. An attacker with access to the contract owner privileges can exploit this flaw to create unlimited tokens for themselves or other users, effectively undermining the token's scarcity model and economic value proposition. The vulnerability also creates a potential pathway for more sophisticated attacks including but not limited to reentrancy attacks, where the manipulated balances could be exploited to drain funds from other users or the contract itself. Additionally, this vulnerability can impact the token's compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements, as it creates an environment where token balances cannot be trusted to represent accurate ownership.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper integer overflow protection mechanisms within the smart contract code. The recommended approach involves implementing comprehensive input validation and bounds checking before any arithmetic operations are performed, utilizing safe math libraries that prevent overflow conditions, and ensuring that all integer operations are performed within validated ranges. The fix should include explicit checks to prevent values from exceeding maximum representable limits for the data types used, implementing proper error handling for overflow conditions, and potentially utilizing the SafeMath library or similar constructs that provide overflow protection. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability represents a privilege escalation technique that can be used to manipulate the token economy and should be addressed through proper access controls and code review processes. Regular security audits and formal verification of smart contract code should be implemented to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future versions, ensuring that the token maintains its integrity and trustworthiness within the Ethereum ecosystem.