CVE-2018-13720 in Antoken
Summary
by MITRE
The mintToken function of a smart contract implementation for Antoken, 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-2018-13720 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the mintToken function of Antoken smart contract implementation on the Ethereum blockchain. This vulnerability stems from improper input validation and arithmetic handling within the token contract's codebase, creating a scenario where the contract owner can manipulate user balances arbitrarily. The flaw manifests when the mintToken function processes token minting operations without adequate bounds checking or overflow protection mechanisms, allowing malicious actors with contract ownership privileges to execute unauthorized balance modifications.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-190, which specifically addresses integer overflow and underflow conditions in software implementations. In Ethereum smart contracts, this type of vulnerability occurs when arithmetic operations exceed the maximum value that can be represented by the data type, causing the value to wrap around to zero or negative numbers. The mintToken function in Antoken fails to implement proper overflow checks before performing balance updates, creating a pathway for the contract owner to manipulate user token balances beyond normal operational parameters. This flaw operates at the core of the contract's state management system, directly affecting the integrity of the token distribution mechanism.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple balance manipulation to potentially compromise the entire token ecosystem and user trust. An attacker with contract ownership privileges can increase any user's balance to arbitrary values, including potentially infinite amounts, effectively allowing for unlimited token generation. This creates severe financial implications for token holders and the overall token economy, as it undermines the fundamental principle of scarcity and controlled supply that governs most cryptocurrency systems. The vulnerability also enables potential denial of service scenarios where malicious actors could manipulate balances to prevent legitimate transactions or create artificial market distortions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-13720 require immediate implementation of comprehensive overflow protection mechanisms within the smart contract codebase. The recommended approach involves incorporating overflow and underflow checks using modern Solidity practices such as the SafeMath library or explicit bounds checking before arithmetic operations. Additionally, contract owners should implement proper access control mechanisms and consider the principle of least privilege when granting administrative functions. Regular security audits and formal verification processes should be integrated into the development lifecycle to identify similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of adhering to established security frameworks and standards within the blockchain development community, as outlined in various ATT&CK techniques related to smart contract exploitation and privilege escalation within decentralized applications.