CVE-2018-13619 in MicoinToken
Summary
by MITRE
The mintToken function of a smart contract implementation for MicoinToken, 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-2018-13619 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the mintToken function of the MicoinToken smart contract implementation 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, creating a scenario where malicious actors can manipulate token balances through crafted transactions. The flaw specifically affects the contract's ability to handle large numerical values during token creation and distribution processes.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the mintToken function processes user inputs without adequate overflow checks, allowing an attacker to manipulate the internal state of the token contract. When the contract attempts to increment token balances using integer arithmetic, the overflow condition causes the balance values to wrap around to unexpected states. This behavior aligns with CWE-191, which describes integer underflow and overflow vulnerabilities, and specifically relates to CWE-682, concerning incorrect arithmetic operations. The vulnerability enables an attacker with owner privileges to arbitrarily set any user's token balance to any desired value, effectively bypassing normal token distribution mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple balance manipulation, creating potential financial losses and contract integrity issues for all token holders. An attacker can exploit this flaw to generate unlimited tokens, drain funds from other users' accounts, or manipulate token distribution to favor specific addresses. The vulnerability particularly affects decentralized finance applications and token-based systems where trust in automated contract execution is paramount. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1210, which involves exploiting weaknesses in software to gain unauthorized access to systems, and T1499, concerning the destruction of systems or data through manipulation of software components.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper integer overflow protection mechanisms within the smart contract code. Developers must incorporate explicit bounds checking and use safe arithmetic operations that prevent overflow conditions from occurring during token creation and transfer processes. The recommended approach includes utilizing established libraries and frameworks that provide overflow protection, such as OpenZeppelin's SafeMath library, which implements checked arithmetic operations. Additionally, comprehensive code auditing and formal verification processes should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other contract functions. Regular security assessments and adherence to secure coding practices for blockchain applications are essential to prevent exploitation of such fundamental arithmetic flaws that can compromise entire token ecosystems.