CVE-2018-12511 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Learn about CVE-2018-12511, a vulnerability in the Substratum smart contract allowing unauthorized manipulation of user account balances. Find mitigation steps and best security practices.
In September 2018, CVE-2018-12511 was published, highlighting a vulnerability in the mintToken function of the Substratum (SUB) smart contract, an Ethereum ERC20 token. The flaw allowed the admin to manipulate minted amounts, exploit an integer overflow, and alter user account balances without restrictions.
Understanding CVE-2018-12511
This section delves into the specifics of the vulnerability and its implications.
What is CVE-2018-12511?
The vulnerability in the mintToken function of the Substratum smart contract enabled the admin to control minted amounts, exploit an integer overflow, and arbitrarily modify user account balances.
The Impact of CVE-2018-12511
The vulnerability posed a significant risk as it allowed unauthorized manipulation of user account balances, potentially leading to financial losses and undermining the integrity of the Substratum token ecosystem.
Technical Details of CVE-2018-12511
Explore the technical aspects of the vulnerability in this section.
Vulnerability Description
The flaw in the mintToken function of the Substratum smart contract allowed the admin to manipulate minted amounts, exploit an integer overflow, and tamper with user account balances without proper authorization.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Product: Not applicable
- Vendor: Not applicable
- Versions: Not applicable
Exploitation Mechanism
The vulnerability could be exploited by the admin through the mintToken function, enabling them to manipulate minted amounts and user account balances.
Mitigation and Prevention
Discover the steps to mitigate and prevent the exploitation of CVE-2018-12511.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Audit smart contracts for vulnerabilities regularly.
- Implement access controls to restrict admin privileges.
- Monitor and log all minting activities for unusual behavior.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Conduct thorough code reviews to identify vulnerabilities.
- Provide security training to developers on secure coding practices.
- Engage in third-party security assessments to identify and address vulnerabilities.
Patching and Updates
Ensure that smart contracts are regularly updated with security patches to address known vulnerabilities.