CVE-2018-13728 in JixoCoin
Summary
by MITRE
The mintToken function of a smart contract implementation for JixoCoin, 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-2018-13728 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the mintToken function of JixoCoin's Ethereum smart contract implementation. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-190 category of integer overflow and under the ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for execution through smart contract manipulation. The flaw exists in the token contract's logic where the mintToken function fails to properly validate or constrain integer values during balance updates, creating a condition where an attacker with owner privileges can manipulate the balance of any user account to arbitrary values.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the smart contract's mintToken function. When the contract processes token minting operations, it does not adequately check for integer overflow conditions that could occur when adding new token amounts to existing user balances. This allows the contract owner to manipulate the internal balance tracking mechanism by passing maliciously crafted parameters that cause the integer arithmetic to wrap around, resulting in unexpected balance values. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the core of the token's accounting system, directly affecting the integrity of user balances and the overall token economy.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple balance manipulation, as it fundamentally compromises the security and trustworthiness of the entire JixoCoin ecosystem. An attacker with owner access could potentially drain user balances, inflate their own holdings, or create artificial scarcity by manipulating the token distribution. This vulnerability undermines the decentralized trust model that Ethereum smart contracts are designed to provide, as it allows a single privileged entity to override the immutable nature of the blockchain's accounting system. The consequences could include complete loss of user funds, market manipulation, and significant damage to the token's reputation and value.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate remediation of the smart contract code to implement proper integer overflow protection mechanisms. The fix should include explicit bounds checking and validation of all input parameters before performing arithmetic operations within the mintToken function. Implementing the SafeMath library or similar mathematical operation libraries that automatically check for overflow conditions would provide robust protection against this class of vulnerability. Additionally, the contract should undergo comprehensive security auditing and formal verification processes to identify and address similar issues throughout the codebase. Regular security assessments and multi-signature ownership structures should also be implemented to reduce the risk associated with privileged accounts having unchecked control over critical contract functions.