Improper input validation is the predominant root cause for smart contract issues. Missing or improper input validation is a vulnerability in a smart contract that occurs when the contract fails to adequately check and validate the data and parameters supplied by users or external sources before processing them. In this case, an attacker can manipulate contract logic, inject malicious data or cause unexpected behavior.
Here's a simple Solidity contract that demonstrates the importance of input validation and how missing or improper validation.
Here's a simple Solidity contract that demonstrates the importance of input validation and how missing or improper validation.
In this sample contract, the withdraw function can be simply invoked with any from address, which means due to the lack of input validation, one can steal anyones deposit.
Bonus: It seems that this contract introduces a reentrancy vulnerability, which is however not exploitable due to an underflow revert in the balance mapping.
How to prevent Improper Input Validation
Developers ought to establish thorough input validation procedures to mitigate improper/missing vulnerabilities. This entails validating data types, examining boundary conditions, and critically checking user input to forestall unforeseen circumstances. Here are some key considerations to keep in mind.
Use Modifiers: Modifiers can add reusable pre or post-conditions to functions, enforcing input validation checks consistently across multiple functions. Here’s an example:
Implement Access Controls: Limit access to certain functions or data to trusted parties only, preventing unauthorized manipulation of the contract's state. For instance:
Validate User Input: Ensure that the input received from users meets the expected criteria. This can include validating the format, length, and type of the input:
Link to the article
https://twitter.com/CharlesWangP/status/1782350590946799888
