CVE-2024-24561
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability in Vyper smart contract language allows attackers to bypass bounds checks for slice operations when non-literal arguments are used, enabling out-of-bounds memory access and array corruption. It affects all Ethereum smart contracts written in Vyper versions 0.3.10 and earlier. Attackers can exploit this to manipulate contract storage, memory, or calldata.
💻 Affected Systems
- Vyper
📦 What is this software?
Vyper by Vyperlang
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete compromise of smart contract functionality, enabling theft of funds, unauthorized state changes, or contract destruction through arbitrary memory manipulation.
Likely Case
Selective memory corruption leading to financial loss, contract logic bypass, or denial of service in vulnerable DeFi applications.
If Mitigated
No impact if contracts don't use slice() with non-literal arguments or if patched version is used.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires crafting specific smart contract calls; public proof-of-concept exists in advisory.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 0.3.11
Vendor Advisory: https://github.com/vyperlang/vyper/security/advisories/GHSA-9x7f-gwxq-6f2c
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Upgrade Vyper to version 0.3.11 or later. 2. Recompile and redeploy all affected smart contracts. 3. Verify contract bytecode matches patched version.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Avoid non-literal slice arguments
allModify contracts to use only literal values for slice start and length parameters
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Audit all contracts for slice() usage with non-literal arguments and implement manual bounds checking
- Implement circuit breakers or emergency pause functions to limit damage if exploitation occurs
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Vyper version with 'vyper --version' and review contract source for slice() calls with non-literal argumentsCheck Version:
vyper --versionVerify Fix Applied:
Confirm Vyper version is 0.3.11+ and recompiled contracts don't contain vulnerable slice patterns📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual contract state changes
- Failed bounds check reverts
- Unexpected memory access patterns
Network Indicators:
- Abnormal transaction patterns to vulnerable contracts
- Multiple failed slice operations
SIEM Query:
Not applicable - smart contract specific vulnerability🔗 References
- https://github.com/vyperlang/vyper/blob/b01cd686aa567b32498fefd76bd96b0597c6f099/vyper/builtins/functions.py#L404-L457
- https://github.com/vyperlang/vyper/issues/3756
- https://github.com/vyperlang/vyper/security/advisories/GHSA-9x7f-gwxq-6f2c
- https://github.com/vyperlang/vyper/blob/b01cd686aa567b32498fefd76bd96b0597c6f099/vyper/builtins/functions.py#L404-L457
- https://github.com/vyperlang/vyper/issues/3756
- https://github.com/vyperlang/vyper/security/advisories/GHSA-9x7f-gwxq-6f2c
