CVE-2024-21629 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

This article provides detailed information about CVE-2024-21629, including its description, impact, technical details, affected systems, and mitigation strategies.

Understanding CVE-2024-21629

CVE-2024-21629 involves the erroneous handling of the

record_external_operation

error return in Rust EVM, an Ethereum Virtual Machine interpreter. This vulnerability can lead to unexpected interactions with the call stack, potentially allowing smart contracts to commit state changes incorrectly.

What is CVE-2024-21629?

The CVE-2024-21629 vulnerability arises from a feature called

record_external_operation

in

rust-evm

, which permits the recording of custom gas changes. When this feature encounters an error after a substate commitment, the error is mistakenly returned to the parent call stack, potentially leading to incorrect state changes in smart contracts.

The Impact of CVE-2024-21629

The impact of CVE-2024-21629 is significant for users of the affected library who utilize custom

record_external_operation

functions. It allows for state changes to be committed erroneously under specific conditions, leading to potential security and integrity risks in smart contract execution.

Technical Details of CVE-2024-21629

The vulnerability description, affected systems, and exploitation mechanism are crucial aspects to consider when addressing and mitigating CVE-2024-21629.

Vulnerability Description

The CVE-2024-21629 vulnerability in Rust EVM stems from improper error handling in the

record_external_operation

feature, leading to substate commitments despite errors, ultimately allowing for incorrect state changes.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects Rust EVM versions prior to 0.41.1. Users of these versions are susceptible to the erroneous handling of

record_external_operation

, potentially exposing their smart contracts to state change vulnerabilities.

Exploitation Mechanism

Exploiting CVE-2024-21629 requires the presence of custom

record_external_operation

functions that encounter errors after substate commitments. By leveraging this flaw, threat actors can manipulate the state changes within smart contracts.

Mitigation and Prevention

Addressing CVE-2024-21629 requires immediate steps, long-term security practices, and the application of relevant patches and updates to safeguard systems from potential exploitation.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users of Rust EVM should upgrade to version 0.41.1 or above to mitigate the CVE-2024-21629 vulnerability. It is crucial to refrain from using custom

record_external_operation

functions that may lead to error returns impacting state changes.

Long-Term Security Practices

In the long term, developers should prioritize robust error handling mechanisms, code reviews, and security audits to identify and address vulnerabilities like CVE-2024-21629 before they can be exploited.

Patching and Updates

The release of version 0.41.1 includes a patch for CVE-2024-21629. Regularly updating software components, staying informed about security advisories, and implementing timely patches are essential practices to prevent potential security risks in software applications.