CVE-2023-46232 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

This article provides details about the CVE-2023-46232 vulnerability affecting era-compiler-vyper, including its description, impact, technical details, and mitigation steps.

Understanding CVE-2023-46232

In this section, we will delve into the specifics of the vulnerability and its implications.

What is CVE-2023-46232?

CVE-2023-46232, also known as the

era-compiler-vyper First Immutable Variable Initialization vulnerability

, affects the era-compiler-vyper utility used in zkSync Era. It involves a bug that prevents the initialization of the first immutable variable for Vyper contracts under specific conditions.

The Impact of CVE-2023-46232

The vulnerability leads to the overwriting of the first immutable value in the ImmutableSimulator due to the mishandling of uninitialized space, potentially impacting the integrity of affected contracts and data.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-46232

This section will outline the technical aspects of the CVE, including the vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

Prior to version 1.3.10 of era-compiler-vyper, a bug existed that caused issues with initializing the first immutable variable for Vyper contracts, particularly when dealing with uninitialized String or Array elements.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects version

< 1.3.10

of era-compiler-vyper, impacting systems that run on this specific version.

Exploitation Mechanism

Exploiting this vulnerability requires knowledge of the bug related to uninitialized space allocation in Vyper contracts, leading to potential data integrity issues.

Mitigation and Prevention

This section covers the steps necessary to mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2023-46232 and prevent exploitation.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to upgrade to version 1.3.10 of era-compiler-vyper and redeploy affected contracts to ensure proper initialization of immutable variables and prevent data corruption.

Long-Term Security Practices

Adopting secure coding practices, auditing smart contracts regularly, and staying informed about updates and patches are essential for long-term security.

Patching and Updates

Vendor patches and updates, such as version 1.3.10 of era-compiler-vyper, should be applied promptly to address the vulnerability and improve system security.