CVE-2018-13696 in RedTicket
Summary
by MITRE
The mintToken function of a smart contract implementation for RedTicket, 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.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/28/2020
The vulnerability described in CVE-2018-13696 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the mintToken function of the RedTicket Ethereum token smart contract. 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 by setting them to arbitrary values, effectively bypassing the normal token minting and distribution mechanisms. Such a vulnerability directly impacts the fundamental integrity of the token economy and the trust model that underpins blockchain-based financial systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through the lack of overflow checks in the mintToken function, which typically handles the creation and distribution of new tokens within the contract. When the function processes token minting operations, it performs arithmetic calculations without validating that the resulting values remain within the valid range of the underlying integer data type. This creates an exploitable condition where an attacker with owner privileges can manipulate the internal balance accounting by causing integer overflow conditions that wrap around to unexpected values. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-190, which specifically addresses integer overflow and underflow conditions, and represents a classic example of how improper arithmetic handling can lead to privilege escalation within smart contract environments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple balance manipulation to potentially compromise the entire token ecosystem. An attacker with owner access can inflate or deflate user balances arbitrarily, leading to potential theft of funds, manipulation of token prices, or disruption of trading activities. The vulnerability also undermines the core principle of blockchain immutability and trustless systems, as it allows for unauthorized modification of user balances without any legitimate transactional justification. This type of vulnerability directly maps to attack techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the category of privilege escalation and data manipulation, where adversaries can leverage implementation flaws to gain unauthorized control over system resources.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper integer overflow checks and input validation mechanisms within the smart contract code. The most effective approach involves incorporating explicit bounds checking before any arithmetic operations within the mintToken function, ensuring that all calculated values remain within acceptable ranges. Additionally, developers should implement comprehensive testing protocols including fuzz testing and formal verification techniques to identify similar vulnerabilities before deployment. The remediation process should also include thorough code reviews and adherence to established smart contract security standards such as those outlined in the Ethereum Smart Contract Security Best Practices. Regular security audits and the implementation of multi-signature ownership mechanisms can further reduce the risk of exploitation while maintaining the operational integrity of the token contract.