CVE-2018-13651 in MicoinNetworkToken
Summary
by MITRE
The mintToken function of a smart contract implementation for MicoinNetworkToken, 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-2018-13651 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the mintToken function of the MicoinNetworkToken smart contract deployed on the Ethereum blockchain. This vulnerability stems from improper input validation and arithmetic operation handling within the contract's codebase, specifically affecting the token's issuance mechanism. The flaw allows an attacker with owner privileges to manipulate token balances by exploiting the overflow condition, potentially enabling unauthorized minting of tokens beyond intended limits. Such vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous in decentralized finance applications where token balances directly correlate to financial value and access control. The integer overflow occurs when the contract attempts to increment token balances beyond the maximum value that can be represented by the underlying data type, creating a scenario where the arithmetic operation wraps around to zero or negative values, thereby enabling arbitrary balance manipulation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exposes a fundamental weakness in the contract's mathematical operations and data type handling. When the mintToken function processes requests to create new tokens, it fails to validate that the resulting balance would not exceed the maximum value for the data type being used. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-190, which specifically addresses integer overflow and underflow conditions in software implementations. The flaw demonstrates poor defensive programming practices where boundary checks are either absent or insufficient, allowing malicious actors to manipulate the contract state through carefully crafted inputs. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the core of the token's value distribution mechanism, giving the contract owner unprecedented control over the token economy. The overflow condition creates a state where legitimate token operations can be subverted, enabling attackers to either inflate token supplies or manipulate specific user balances to arbitrary values, fundamentally compromising the integrity of the token's economic model.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple balance manipulation to potentially destabilize the entire token ecosystem and undermine user trust in the platform. An attacker with owner access could theoretically inflate token supplies indefinitely, causing severe dilution of existing token holders' stakes and creating economic instability within the network. The vulnerability also enables targeted attacks where specific user accounts could be manipulated to have extremely high balances, potentially allowing for manipulation of governance voting power or unauthorized transfers. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001, which involves the use of scripting languages to manipulate system behavior, in this case through smart contract code manipulation. The impact on the broader Ethereum ecosystem is significant as it demonstrates how a single flaw in a token contract can compromise the security and economic integrity of the entire platform. Users may lose confidence in the security of tokenized assets, leading to potential market instability and regulatory scrutiny. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of thorough code auditing and formal verification techniques in smart contract development, as these issues can have cascading effects on user funds and network stability.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-13651 require immediate implementation of comprehensive code fixes and security enhancements. The primary solution involves implementing proper boundary checks and overflow protection mechanisms within the mintToken function, ensuring that all arithmetic operations are validated against maximum data type limits. This includes utilizing safe math libraries or implementing explicit checks before performing any balance modifications. The contract should also implement proper access control measures and consider using multi-signature wallets for owner operations to reduce the risk of unauthorized access. Additionally, regular security audits and formal verification processes should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities before deployment. Organizations should also implement monitoring systems to detect anomalous balance changes that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a critical reminder of the importance of adhering to security best practices in smart contract development, including the use of established frameworks like OpenZeppelin's safe math libraries, which provide pre-tested implementations of secure arithmetic operations. Furthermore, the incident underscores the necessity for comprehensive testing protocols including fuzz testing and symbolic execution to identify potential overflow conditions in smart contract code. The remediation process must also include thorough documentation of changes and proper testing in testnet environments before any production deployment to ensure that the fix does not introduce new vulnerabilities or break existing functionality.