CVE-2018-13701 in KissMe
Summary
by MITRE
The mintToken function of a smart contract implementation for KissMe, 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-2018-13701 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the mintToken function of the KissMe Ethereum token smart contract implementation. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and arithmetic overflow handling within the contract's code execution flow. The flaw allows the contract owner to manipulate token balances of arbitrary users by exploiting the unchecked integer arithmetic operations that occur during token minting processes. The vulnerability directly violates fundamental security principles of smart contract development and demonstrates a severe lack of proper boundary checking mechanisms. According to CWE-190, this represents an integer overflow condition where the result of an arithmetic operation exceeds the maximum value that can be represented by the underlying data type, creating exploitable conditions for unauthorized balance manipulation.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the mintToken function's failure to validate input parameters before performing arithmetic operations on token amounts. When the contract owner invokes this function with maliciously crafted parameters, the integer overflow allows them to bypass normal balance increment logic and directly assign arbitrary values to user accounts. This creates a scenario where the owner can effectively mint unlimited tokens for themselves or other users, fundamentally compromising the token's supply mechanism and potentially leading to complete loss of value for legitimate token holders. The vulnerability operates at the core of the contract's state management system, where the owner's privileged position is exploited to manipulate the blockchain's immutable ledger through carefully constructed overflow conditions. This flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and control through smart contract manipulation, as it enables unauthorized control over token distribution and account balances.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond immediate financial loss to encompass complete trust erosion in the token ecosystem. Once exploited, the vulnerability allows the contract owner to manipulate token distributions in ways that could render the entire token economy unstable, potentially leading to market manipulation or complete token devaluation. The vulnerability's exploitation can result in unauthorized minting of tokens that exceed the intended supply, creating inflationary pressures and undermining the economic model of the token. Additionally, the flaw creates potential for chain reorganization attacks where malicious actors can manipulate the blockchain state to their advantage. The vulnerability also exposes the underlying smart contract to further exploitation vectors, as the integer overflow may indicate broader code quality issues that could lead to additional security weaknesses. Organizations and users should immediately assess their exposure to this vulnerability and implement emergency mitigation strategies, including contract upgrades or complete replacement of affected implementations, to prevent unauthorized balance manipulation and maintain the integrity of their token ecosystems.