CVE-2018-13627 in MyOffer
Summary
by MITRE
The mintToken function of a smart contract implementation for MyOffer, 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 as CVE-2018-13627 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the mintToken function of an Ethereum smart contract implementation for the MyOffer token. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-190 category of integer overflow or wraparound, which occurs when a computation involving signed or unsigned integer values produces a result that exceeds the maximum value that can be represented by the underlying data type. The specific implementation flaw allows the contract owner to manipulate token balances in a manner that violates the fundamental principles of blockchain token economics and security.
The technical execution of this vulnerability exploits the lack of proper input validation and overflow checking within the mintToken function. When the contract owner invokes this function, they can manipulate the token minting process to set any user's balance to an arbitrary value, effectively bypassing normal token distribution mechanisms and creating potential for massive financial loss or manipulation. This flaw directly violates the principle of least privilege and contract integrity that are fundamental to secure smart contract development. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows the contract owner to essentially create unlimited tokens or manipulate existing token holdings without proper authorization.
Operationally, this vulnerability creates severe implications for the security and trustworthiness of the MyOffer token ecosystem. The ability to set arbitrary user balances means that malicious actors with access to the contract owner account can drain funds from other users, create false token distributions, or manipulate market dynamics to their advantage. The impact extends beyond immediate financial loss to include complete erosion of user confidence in the token's integrity and the broader smart contract platform. This vulnerability also creates potential for coordinated attacks where multiple users might be targeted simultaneously to maximize the financial impact.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate remediation through proper input validation and overflow protection mechanisms. The smart contract code must implement comprehensive checks to prevent integer overflow conditions during token minting operations, utilizing techniques such as SafeMath libraries or explicit bounds checking. The contract owner should also implement proper access controls and audit trails to monitor token distribution activities. Additionally, the vulnerability highlights the critical importance of thorough smart contract auditing processes and adherence to security best practices as outlined in the OWASP Smart Contract Security Verification Standard. Organizations should also consider implementing multi-signature ownership models and time locks for critical contract functions to reduce the attack surface and provide additional security layers against such vulnerabilities.