CVE-2018-13633 in Martcoin
Summary
by MITRE
The mintToken function of a smart contract implementation for Martcoin, 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-2018-13633 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the mintToken function of the Martcoin Ethereum token 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 in ways that exceed normal operational parameters, creating a significant security risk for the entire token ecosystem. The integer overflow occurs when the mintToken function processes token minting operations without adequate boundary checks, enabling the owner to specify arbitrary balance values for any user address within the contract.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental weakness in the smart contract's arithmetic handling mechanisms, specifically violating the principles of secure coding practices for blockchain applications. When the mintToken function executes, it performs calculations that can exceed the maximum value that can be stored in the designated integer data types, causing the value to wrap around to a much smaller number. This overflow condition creates a scenario where the owner can effectively manipulate token balances through carefully crafted inputs that exploit the mathematical properties of integer representation. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-190, which describes integer overflow conditions, and specifically aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1059.006 for smart contract exploitation through code injection and manipulation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple balance manipulation to potentially compromise the entire token economy and user trust within the Martcoin ecosystem. An attacker with owner privileges could theoretically create unlimited tokens for themselves while simultaneously manipulating other users' balances to zero or other arbitrary values, effectively enabling unauthorized wealth redistribution and potential theft of funds. The implications for the broader Ethereum token ecosystem are significant, as this type of vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and boundary checking in smart contract implementations. The vulnerability also exposes the underlying architecture to potential denial of service attacks where users might be unable to access their legitimate token balances due to the manipulated state of the contract.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of comprehensive input validation and integer overflow protection mechanisms within the smart contract code. Developers should implement explicit boundary checks using require statements to validate input parameters before processing any arithmetic operations, ensuring that all values remain within acceptable ranges. The contract should utilize safe math libraries that automatically handle overflow conditions or implement explicit overflow detection before performing arithmetic operations. Additionally, the principle of least privilege should be enforced by limiting the owner's ability to manipulate balances directly, instead implementing proper access controls that require multi-signature approval for critical operations. Regular security audits and formal verification of smart contract code should become standard practice to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited in production environments. The vulnerability also highlights the necessity for comprehensive testing including edge case scenarios and stress testing to ensure that all mathematical operations behave correctly under extreme conditions, preventing similar issues from occurring in future smart contract deployments.