CVE-2023-41052 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

This article provides insights into CVE-2023-41052, a vulnerability identified in Vyper that affects certain versions of the software.

Understanding CVE-2023-41052

This section delves into the details of the CVE-2023-41052 vulnerability, including its impact and technical aspects.

What is CVE-2023-41052?

CVE-2023-41052 is a vulnerability in Vyper, a Pythonic Smart Contract Language. The issue arises from the incorrect order of evaluation of side effects for some built-in functions, leading to potential risks in affected versions.

The Impact of CVE-2023-41052

The impact of this vulnerability lies in the flawed evaluation of arguments in specific built-in functions within Vyper, potentially causing unexpected behavior when side effects are not correctly managed. This could result in security risks for users utilizing the affected versions of Vyper.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-41052

This section discusses the technical aspects related to CVE-2023-41052, including the vulnerability description, affected systems, and exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

In affected versions of Vyper (<= 0.3.9), the order of evaluation of arguments in certain built-in functions, such as

uint256_addmod

,

uint256_mulmod

,

ecadd

, and

ecmul

, deviates from the expected source order. This behavior becomes critical when an argument's evaluation leads to side effects that are relied upon by other arguments, potentially causing unexpected outcomes.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability impacts Vyper versions up to and including 0.3.9. Users utilizing these versions are at risk of the incorrect evaluation of side effects, particularly within the specified built-in functions.

Exploitation Mechanism

The exploitation of CVE-2023-41052 involves manipulating the order of arguments in the affected built-in functions to trigger undesired side effects. Attackers could potentially leverage this vulnerability to disrupt the intended behavior of smart contracts developed using Vyper.

Mitigation and Prevention

This section outlines measures that users can take to mitigate the risks posed by CVE-2023-41052 and prevent potential security incidents.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users of Vyper versions <= 0.3.9 should exercise caution when utilizing the identified built-in functions. It is recommended to avoid scenarios where arguments with side effects are interdependent to minimize the exploitation of the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

To enhance security, users should stay updated with patches and security advisories from Vyper. Additionally, practicing secure coding principles and conducting thorough code reviews can help in identifying and addressing similar vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

A patch addressing the incorrect evaluation of side effects in Vyper's built-in functions is currently under development and can be accessed through pull request #3583. Users are advised to apply the patch promptly upon its release to safeguard their systems from potential exploits.