Introduction
We express our gratitude to the SSV Labs team for the collaborative engagement that enabled the execution of this Blockchain Protocol Security Assessment.
SSV Network is a decentralized infrastructure designed to enhance the security and decentralization of Ethereum's Proof of Stake (PoS) mechanism. By leveraging Distributed Validator Technology (DVT), the network enables multiple nodes to collaboratively manage a single Ethereum validator, thereby reducing risks and boosting fault tolerance. This distribution of validator duties across various operators helps eliminate single points of failure, enhancing the security and resilience of Ethereum staking.
Document | |
|---|---|
| Name | Blockchain Protocol Review and Security Analysis Report for SSV Labs |
| Audited By | Nino Lipartiia, Hamza Sajid |
| Approved By | Luciano Ciattaglia |
| Website | https://ssv.network/→ |
| Changelog | 11/08/2024 - First Preliminary Report for ssv-spec |
| Changelog | 05/09/2024 - Second Preliminary Report |
| Changelog | 01/10/2024 - Final Report |
| Platform | Ethereum |
| Language | Golang |
| Tags | Distributed validator technology, MPC |
| Methodology | https://hackenio.cc/blockchain_methodology→ |
Document
- Name
- Blockchain Protocol Review and Security Analysis Report for SSV Labs
- Audited By
- Nino Lipartiia, Hamza Sajid
- Approved By
- Luciano Ciattaglia
- Website
- https://ssv.network/→
- Changelog
- 11/08/2024 - First Preliminary Report for ssv-spec
- Changelog
- 05/09/2024 - Second Preliminary Report
- Changelog
- 01/10/2024 - Final Report
- Platform
- Ethereum
- Language
- Golang
- Tags
- Distributed validator technology, MPC
- Methodology
- https://hackenio.cc/blockchain_methodology→
Review Scope | |
|---|---|
| Repository | https://github.com/ssvlabs/ssv-spec→ |
| Commit | ccf408d1ecd87a4ab631885409d679f10c3fd080 |
Review Scope
- Repository
- https://github.com/ssvlabs/ssv-spec→
- Commit
- ccf408d1ecd87a4ab631885409d679f10c3fd080
Audit Summary
The system users should acknowledge all the risks summed up in the risks section of the report
Documentation quality
The code is well-documented, providing detailed explanations that support a strong foundational understanding.
Protocol documentation is accessible via the official SSV Network website, ensuring easy reference for developers and users.
Major updates to the protocol are documented through SSV Improvement Proposals (SIPs), offering transparency and clarity.
However, minor discrepancies between the SIPs and the actual codebase have been noted.
Code quality
The project maintains consistently high code quality across its components.
There is comprehensive test coverage, which contributes to the project's overall reliability.
Static code analysis has identified several warnings that should be addressed.
The codebase includes some unresolved TODO comments and "implement me" panics, indicating areas that need further attention.
Architecture quality
The project leverages the innovative Distributed Validator Technology, enhancing security and decentralization.
The separation of the
ssv-specrepository logic from the main SSV node repository improves modularity and maintainability.The
ssv-speccomponents are well-organized into distinct packages, contributing to a clean and efficient architecture.
System Overview
This audit focuses on the ssv-spec repository, a pivotal element of the SSV Network’s operator logic. The ssv-spec codebase includes several critical modules:
p2p: Oversees networking and message validation.
qbft: Implements the consensus mechanism for achieving coordination among the operators within the cluster.
ssv: Contains the core logic of the SSV specification.
These modules are essential for the effective operation of SSV nodes, as they define the specific requirements for crucial node components and significantly enhance overall maintainability. This audit is dedicated to evaluating the code within the ssv-spec repository to ensure its integrity and functionality.
Findings
Code ― | Title | Status | Severity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F-2024-4402 | Vulnerabilities in Go Standard Library | fixed | High | |
| F-2024-4371 | Vulnerabilities in External Go Dependencies | fixed | High | |
| F-2024-4394 | Insecure Decryption of RSA Keys | fixed | Low | |
| F-2024-5698 | Residual DKG Code Segments | fixed | Observation | |
| F-2024-5173 | Excessive Validation in Decided Messages Handling | fixed | Observation | |
| F-2024-5171 | Unnecessary Error Return in basePartialSigMsgProcessing | fixed | Observation | |
| F-2024-4892 | Runners Implementations Lack Share Length Validation | fixed | Observation | |
| F-2024-4837 | Unnecessary Exploitation of nolint Comments | fixed | Observation | |
| F-2024-4814 | Potential Issues Identified Via Static Analysis | fixed | Observation |
Appendix 1. Severity Definitions
Severity | Description |
|---|---|
Critical | Vulnerabilities that can lead to a complete breakdown of the blockchain network's security, privacy, integrity, or availability fall under this category. They can disrupt the consensus mechanism, enabling a malicious entity to take control of the majority of nodes or facilitate 51% attacks. In addition, issues that could lead to widespread crashing of nodes, leading to a complete breakdown or significant halt of the network, are also considered critical along with issues that can lead to a massive theft of assets. Immediate attention and mitigation are required. |
High | High severity vulnerabilities are those that do not immediately risk the complete security or integrity of the network but can cause substantial harm. These are issues that could cause the crashing of several nodes, leading to temporary disruption of the network, or could manipulate the consensus mechanism to a certain extent, but not enough to execute a 51% attack. Partial breaches of privacy, unauthorized but limited access to sensitive information, and affecting the reliable execution of smart contracts also fall under this category. |
Medium | Medium severity vulnerabilities could negatively affect the blockchain protocol but are usually not capable of causing catastrophic damage. These could include vulnerabilities that allow minor breaches of user privacy, can slow down transaction processing, or can lead to relatively small financial losses. It may be possible to exploit these vulnerabilities under specific circumstances, or they may require a high level of access to exploit effectively. |
Low | Low severity vulnerabilities are minor flaws in the blockchain protocol that might not have a direct impact on security but could cause minor inefficiencies in transaction processing or slight delays in block propagation. They might include vulnerabilities that allow attackers to cause nuisance-level disruptions or are only exploitable under extremely rare and specific conditions. These vulnerabilities should be corrected but do not represent an immediate threat to the system. |
Severity
- Critical
Description
- Vulnerabilities that can lead to a complete breakdown of the blockchain network's security, privacy, integrity, or availability fall under this category. They can disrupt the consensus mechanism, enabling a malicious entity to take control of the majority of nodes or facilitate 51% attacks. In addition, issues that could lead to widespread crashing of nodes, leading to a complete breakdown or significant halt of the network, are also considered critical along with issues that can lead to a massive theft of assets. Immediate attention and mitigation are required.
Severity
- High
Description
- High severity vulnerabilities are those that do not immediately risk the complete security or integrity of the network but can cause substantial harm. These are issues that could cause the crashing of several nodes, leading to temporary disruption of the network, or could manipulate the consensus mechanism to a certain extent, but not enough to execute a 51% attack. Partial breaches of privacy, unauthorized but limited access to sensitive information, and affecting the reliable execution of smart contracts also fall under this category.
Severity
- Medium
Description
- Medium severity vulnerabilities could negatively affect the blockchain protocol but are usually not capable of causing catastrophic damage. These could include vulnerabilities that allow minor breaches of user privacy, can slow down transaction processing, or can lead to relatively small financial losses. It may be possible to exploit these vulnerabilities under specific circumstances, or they may require a high level of access to exploit effectively.
Severity
- Low
Description
- Low severity vulnerabilities are minor flaws in the blockchain protocol that might not have a direct impact on security but could cause minor inefficiencies in transaction processing or slight delays in block propagation. They might include vulnerabilities that allow attackers to cause nuisance-level disruptions or are only exploitable under extremely rare and specific conditions. These vulnerabilities should be corrected but do not represent an immediate threat to the system.
Appendix 2. Scope
The scope of the project includes the following components from the provided repository:
Scope Details | |
|---|---|
| Repository | https://github.com/ssvlabs/ssv-spec→ |
| Commit | ccf408d1ecd87a4ab631885409d679f10c3fd080 |
Scope Details
- Repository
- https://github.com/ssvlabs/ssv-spec→
- Commit
- ccf408d1ecd87a4ab631885409d679f10c3fd080
The remediation check has been conducted based on commit hash 93ad50e →, which reflects the status of each issue following this process. It is important to acknowledge that this commit may include changes made subsequent to the initial review commit, which were not part of the audit assessment.
Components in Scope
The scope includes the entire codebase of the ssv-spec repository, focusing on the following key components:
p2p: Handles networking and message validation.
qbft: Implements the consensus mechanism.
ssv: Contains the core logic for the SSV spec.