Dedaub is proud to sponsor the DeFi Security Summit (DSS) 2024, which will be held from November 7th to 9th in Bangkok. The summit aims to enhance the security of smart contracts in decentralized finance. This sponsorship reflects our commitment to bolstering Web3 by elevating blockchain security standards and promoting collaboration within the ecosystem.
In the 2024 edition, we’re contributing to two key sessions:
1. SEAL Panel: “Safer Development: Don’t Get Rekt”
This panel will cover best practices for secure development, with insights from top security leaders. Gain practical strategies to avoid common pitfalls in smart contract development.
2. “Smart Contracts to Embeddings: Using Off-the-Shelf LLMs for Fun and Profit”
Dedaub will demonstrate how Large Language Models (LLMs) can improve smart contract analysis, providing developers with new tools to understand and enhance contract security.
DSS 2024 | About DeFi Security Summit
The DeFi Security Summit (DSS) is an annual, marketing-free event dedicated to advancing the security of decentralized finance (DeFi) applications and blockchain-based technology. Inspired by renowned security conferences like CCC and Defcon, DSS is a platform for white-hat hackers, protocol builders, security researchers, and tool providers to collaborate and share insights. The summit focuses on education, technical advancements, and best practices to secure blockchain applications’ on-chain and off-chain components. DSS 2024 will be the third edition, building on the success of previous years. For more info, visit https://defisecuritysummit.org/.
About Dedaub
Dedaub is a pioneer in Smart Contract security technology and auditing. We blend cutting-edge program analysis with real-world white-hat hacking. As a founding collaborator of the SEAL 911 initiative, we contribute to emergency response frameworks within the blockchain ecosystem. Trusted by leading protocols, Dedaub is the security partner for Oasis Protocol Sapphire and collaborates with the Chainlink BUILD program. Our role on the ZKSync Security Council and as a security advisor to Arbitrum DAO emphasizes our commitment to safeguarding major Web3 projects.
The Privacy4Web3 Hackathon, supported by Oasis Network, is an excellent opportunity for developers to use privacy-centric technologies while innovating in Web3. This edition, also known as Hackathon Oasis Network, has a prize pool of $130,000, with contributions from industry players, including Dedaub.
Developers can utilize Oasis’ confidential EVM, Sapphire, and the newly launched Runtime Off-chain Logic (ROFL) framework. ROFL enables off-chain components to interact with the on-chain domain, expanding Sapphire’s capabilities and creating new possibilities for composability. Learn more
Key Dates
Submission Period: September 19 – November 1
Judging Period: November 1 – November 10
Winner Announcement: November 12
Privacy4Web3 Hackathon | About Dedaub’s Role and Contribution
As a sponsor of the Privacy4Web3 Hackathon, Dedaub is offering $10,000 in audit credits to winning projects that utilize Sapphire and ROFL (Runtime Off-Chain Logic). By offering audit credits, Dedaub wants to emphasize the importance of security when starting new projects.
“Our work with Oasis Network reflects our commitment to Web3 security. We want to ensure developers building privacy-preserving solutions have the right tools and guidance to secure their smart contracts.” Neville Grech, Co-Founder, Dedaub,
Dedaub aims to enhance Web3 safety by employing advanced technology, conducting comprehensive audits, and providing extended security solutions. We have conducted over 200 audits for leading Web3 protocols, securing billions in Total Value Locked (TVL), partnering with industry leaders such as the Ethereum Foundation, EigenLayer, and Liquity. As a part of our commitment, we offer guidance as security advisors for various projects and initiatives.
Dedaub is a security partner of Oasis Protocol Sapphire, a founding collaborator of Seal 911, and a participant in the Chainlink Build Program. Additionally, we are a member of the zkSync Security Council and serve as a security advisor for the Arbitrium DAO.
Privacy4Web3 Hackathon | About Oasis
Oasis is home to Sapphire, the world’s first confidential EVM network. It also boasts the Oasis Privacy Layer (OPL), a cross-chain privacy solution that any EVM dApp can use. Oasis also has ROFL, a framework that supports off-chain components to runtimes like Oasis Sapphire.Â
Oasis is a layer-one blockchain built to support confidential applications at scale. This is done with a unique layered architecture that presents the optimal building and execution environment for DeFi, AI, RWAs, Gaming, NFTs, DAO governance, and more. Learn more
Privacy4Web3 Hackathon | Ocean Protocol
Ocean Protocol was created to democratize data access and ensure fair and secure sharing in the New Data Economy. Its tools enable seamless trading of tokenized data assets and data management throughout the AI model life cycle. Ocean Protocol is also a founding member of the Artificial Superintelligence Alliance. Learn more.
We’re thrilled to announce that Dedaub is now a member of the ZKsync Security Council. We’re grateful for the community’s recognition of our efforts to play an active role in securing and maintaining the integrity of the Web3 space.
What is the ZKsync Security Council?
The ZKsync Security Council is a governance body tasked with safeguarding the security of the ZKsync protocol (ZKsync ERA, ZK Chains, and other components of ZKsync). Comprised of at least nine technical experts, the council has the authority to perform both standard and emergency actions to address security threats. Members are Signers of a multisig wallet, giving them the power to execute critical decisions that protect the protocol. Read more.
Emergency Responses
The Security Council can freeze the ZKsync protocol in response to security threats, such as critical bugs or exploits. A Soft Freeze lasts for 12 hours and requires approval from three Security Council Members. A Hard Freeze lasts for seven days and requires approval from nine Security Council members.
An Emergency Upgrade can be implemented during a freeze to address the threat. Any Security Council Member may initiate an Emergency Upgrade without the approval of the Token Assembly.
Why Dedaub Was Selected
Dedaub was selected for the ZKsync Security Council because of its extensive expertise in smart contract security. The company has successfully completed over 200 security audits, conducted impact studies for the Ethereum Foundation, and developed innovative security Web3 technologies as part of its security suite.
The Dedaub team boasts exceptional academic credentials, with most members holding relevant PhDs, providing a solid foundation for our rigorous approach to Web3 security. ZKsync Security Council is one of many entities that trust Dedaub to increase its security expertise for its initiatives. Dedaub is also a founding member of the Security Alliance (SEAL), Arbitrum DAO Security Advisor, Oasis, and Chainlink Security Partners.
The Importance of Being Part of the ZKsync Security Council
Dedaub’s role in the ZKsync Security Council is actively protecting the ZKsync protocol. We our commitment to enhancing smart contract security and building trust in decentralized platforms and ZK rollups.
Dedaub has invested heavily in preparing for ZK technologies and sponsored the House of ZK event in Brussels, which featured discussions on Zero Knowledge technology and networking opportunities. Neville Grech, Dedaub’s co-founder, participated in a panel on “Trustless Interoperability Using ZK,” along with other industry experts.
Dedaub is proud to sponsor the SPLASH 2024 conference, helping unite top thinkers in software, programming languages, and systems. We support the community’s advancement of computer science, extending beyond our Web3 security work.
The Doctoral Symposium, where mid-stage doctoral students receive vital research guidance, aligns with our academic roots. Led by university professors, our team is a powerhouse of expertise, with most members holding PhDs. We believe advanced knowledge is vital to delivering exceptional solutions and are excited to foster future tech leaders.
“SPLASH 2024 is where ideas meet action. At Dedaub, we push boundaries—whether in blockchain security or academic thought. By backing SPLASH 2024 , we’re investing in the minds that will define our industry. It’s about innovation, integrity, and preparing the next generation to lead.” Yannis Smaragdakis, Co-founder of Dedaub
Dedaub’s co-founders and senior researchers will attend, supporting open dialogue and contributing to the development of innovative solutions for technology’s future.
Sponsoring SPLASH 2024 emphasizes our commitment to expanding knowledge and empowering the next generation of technology leaders. We see this conference as a platform for pushing the boundaries of blockchain and smart contract security while nurturing emerging talents.
For those attending SPLASH 2024, we look forward to engaging with you, exchanging ideas, and exploring the future of programming together.
About SPLASH 2024
SPLASH (ACM SIGPLAN International Conference on Systems, Programming, Languages, and Applications: Software for Humanity) covers various software creation and delivery aspects. It’s a leading conference at the crossroads of programming languages and software engineering. SPLASH 2024 will feature the co-located OOPSLA, Onward!, SAS, GPCE, and SLE conferences, as well as SPLASH-E and other engaging workshops and events. SPLASH 2024 will bring together researchers and practitioners worldwide to explore the latest advancements and trends in software and programming languages. We are excited to be part of this dynamic event and to contribute to the ongoing dialogue on shaping the future of software development. Learn more.
Dedaub Security Suite is renowned for its powerful EVM bytecode decompiler, which users have hailed as the best in the industry. Just as a quick sample of how much it’s appreciated, one testimonial reads, “I love the Dedaub decompiler—No other tool even comes close to what Dedaub has created.” The Dedaub Security Suite is a collection of web3 security technology tools, with the decompiler being the most popular in the community. In this blog post, we share our suite’s latest milestones, new features, and platform improvements.
Enhanced EVM bytecode Decompiler Insights
Our decompiler now extracts additional information about high-level storage and memory structures, such as mappings, arrays, and structs. This enhancement provides deeper insights into your contract’s storage and memory, enabling a more thorough analysis and understanding of on-chain bytecode.
Expanding Our Chain Support
We’re proud to announce the recent addition of Binance (@BNBCHAIN), Blast (@blast-l2), and Polygon (@0xPolygon) to our Dedaub Security Suite, which now fully supports eight major EVM chains.
Our ongoing expansion aims to provide a comprehensive security technology solution for all EVM-compatible ecosystems, ensuring your projects remain secure across multiple platforms.
Advanced Pre-Deployment Analysis
Our platform now includes enhanced analysis capabilities, particularly for pre-deployment “Projects.” This feature enables precise fuzzing of undeployed contracts, which significantly improves our static analysis engine.
These improvements drastically reduce analysis timeouts without compromising precision and completeness, ensuring faster and more accurate results. Learn more.
On-Demand Analysis with GPT Integration
Dedaub Security Suite now offers on-demand analysis of project contracts using GPT technology. Leveraging advanced GPT prompts, our platform provides detailed insights that complement our traditional static analyses. This feature helps uncover hidden issues and suggests improvements, presenting findings succinctly with inline code snippets for easy inspection. Learn more.
Customizable On-Chain Transaction Monitoring
Our customizable blockchain monitoring solution utilizes an enhanced PostgreSQL database to detect on-chain activities, establish periodic executions, and create custom alerts. For instance, you can set up a monitoring agent to identify large fund transfers to or from a yield farming vault. Learn more.
Create Your Free Account and Access the Dedaub Decompiler
Sticking to our mission, “… to ensure the integrity of the blockchain ecosystem by transforming complex smart contracts into clear, secure, and reliable systems,” Dedaub is committed to contributing to web3 security by offering the entire community free access to our advanced technology. Create your free account today and access the powerful Dedaub decompiler.Â
Dedaub is excited to participate in ETHDenver 2024. During the conference, Dedaub will showcase its advanced security technology solutions. Its team will members discuss the safety of Web3 applications, build partnerships, and share insights to enhance security standards within the Web3 ecosystem.
Visit Dedaub at Booth #251 in Devtopia at ETHDenver 2024!
Dedaub’s booth, #251, is in the vibrant Devtopia space. We invite technology enthusiasts to visit and attend one of the Suite demos, where we’ll explore the cutting-edge capabilities of static analysis, formal verification, Monitoring, and Alerting service.
In the demo, you will have the opportunity to learn about our tools that utilize formal analysis and statistical learning to examine possible states and paths of Smart Contracts, efficiently identifying vulnerabilities. Additionally, you will see how our customizable agents can provide essential insights into on-chain activities. Check out the Demo calendar on our Dedaub booth playbook.
Moreover, it is an excellent opportunity to interact with our team and discover how we can safeguard your Web3 projects.
Spotlight | Dedaub Talk
One of the main events during Dedaub’s participation at ETHDenver 2024 will be a talk by co-founder Yannis Smaragdakis, a respected authority on blockchain security. The presentation is scheduled for February 29, 2024, at 4:25 PM: “All Your Contract Are Belong to Us: Analyzing All Deployed SCs”
Every time there is a need to analyze a large number of Smart Contracts, Dedaub is the default partner–in war rooms, Ethereum Foundation impact studies, and widespread bugs.
Dedaub has built on its leading EVM decompiler to produce technology for querying all EVM smart contracts ever deployed. The talk will go over cool recent cases:
Ecosystem-level threats: use in major “war rooms,” e.g., ThirdWeb vulnerability.
About @EthereumDenver 2024
ETHDenver 2024, known as the Year of the SporkWhale, will occur in Denver from February 23 to March 3, 2024. It aims to turn the city into a hub for blockchain innovation. ETHDenver is a community-owned innovation festival powered by SporkDAO that offers a variety of activities, including workshops, technical presentations, bootcamps, and networking parties. Learn more.
As a founding collaborator of the Security Alliance (SEAL), Dedaub celebrates SEAL’s public debut, a significant milestone in crypto security. The alliance consists of more than 50 Web3 and cybersecurity organizations. Its goal is to strengthen the security of the cryptocurrency ecosystem. Before its public debut, SEAL connected users, developers, and experts and offered free Web3 simulation exercises.
SEAL’s dedication to setting high-security benchmarks within the crypto ecosystem aligns with our core capabilities. Dedaub is bringing to the table world-leading technologies and expertise in static and dynamic program analysis, reverse engineering, and ethical hacking. In the context of SEAL, we can contribute to developing more robust defense mechanisms against threats and ensure the blockchain ecosystem’s safety.
Dedaub supports the Whitehat Safe Harbor initiative and SEAL proactivity. This empowers ethical hackers to use cutting-edge tools like MEV bots to monitor and safeguard projects easily. The goal is to respond to challenges and incidents like the Nomad bridge hack.
Dedaub is proud to be part of SEAL, driving towards a more secure decentralized future.
Seal’s Public Debut | The security culture
By its very nature, the crypto market fosters a rigorous security culture. Its foundation on blockchain technology—a bastion of decentralized security—demands constant vigilance and innovation from its participants. It encourages the development of sophisticated security measures designed to protect against a wide range of threats.
Crypto security constantly changes and adapts to meet the challenges of advanced threats. Its strength relies on its community’sdge and expertise, including developers, researchers, and users, who work together to protect the infrastructure. Their collective efforts safeguard the system, embodying the core values that make Web3 a unique, resilient, and ever-growing reality.
Seal’s Public Debut | The security researchers’ playground
Crypto offers an exciting platform for security researchers, including those from web2 backgrounds, due to its complex challenges, high stakes, and the immediate impact of their work. This field merges theoretical knowledge with practical application, creating a rich environment for problem-solving.
Collaborating with SEAL through initiatives like SEAL Drills allows researchers to contribute while expanding their skill set significantly. These drills offer hands-on experience in real-world scenarios, enhancing their technical skills and understanding of blockchain intricacies. SEAL Drills prepare them to face formidable challenges and fosters a collaborative learning atmosphere with seasoned experts, making an ideal space for deploying and honing their security skills.
The collective and hands-on approach is crucial, especially when considering the advanced tools at our disposal, such as MEV bots, and the legal complexities surrounding their use.
Seal’s Public Debut | The Impact of MEV Bots under the Safe Harbor Agreement
The Whitehat Safe Harbor Agreement that SEAL promotes provides a legal framework for ethical hackers to conduct emergency rescues, primarily using MEV bots. This allows the community to monitor suspicious activities and take protection actions (when a protocol is under attack) without facing legal consequences.
The open and decentralized nature of cryptocurrency, which includes public code and lack of gatekeepers, makes it susceptible to hacking attempts. Therefore, it is important that security researchers are incentivized to protect it as much as attackers are motivated to steal funds.
In the past, many developers and security researchers were discouraged from assisting due to legal ambiguity with their employers. SEAL is promoting this initiative following its community members who regretted that more people would help if a legal framework existed.
Dedaub is committed to SEAL’s mission to protect decentralization and urges the community to join the cause.
About Security Alliance (SEAL)
Security Alliance (SEAL), established with the support of blockchain innovators, has quickly become a cornerstone in the advancement of Web3 security. This alliance represents a collaborative effort among premier experts, from audit firms to ethical hackers. It is dedicated to pushing the security boundaries in the Web3 space. As one of its founding members, Dedaub has been at the forefront of this initiative, driven by a mutual commitment to bolster Web3 security.
SEAL operates as a US 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the mission to protect the decentralized internet. Bringing together a diverse group of security experts—including auditors, bug bounty hunters, foundation security leaders, security researchers, and ethical hackers—marks a significant step in social coordination across different web3/crypto ecosystem sectors.
The alliance innovates with several key initiatives in the crypto ecosystem’s security framework. SEAL911 and SEAL Drills, for instance, are designed to provide immediate assistance and training against security threats, showcasing SEAL’s proactive approach to community support.
Additionally, the Safe Harbor Agreement for Whitehats, spearheaded by SEAL, emphasizes the alliance’s forward-thinking strategy to prepare for and mitigate future security threats. This agreement lays down a legal framework enabling ethical hackers to contribute to the crypto ecosystem’s security without fearing legal repercussions.
We invite the community to engage and provide feedback on the Whitehat Safe Harbor Agreement proposal hosted on Github. We welcome your insights until Pi Day, March 14, 2024.
At Dedaub, we have solid expertise in Smart Contract security, which allows us to contribute significantly to protecting the Web3 ecosystem, and we have recently achieved another milestone in our mission to establish trust and improve safety in the blockchain industry.
We are thrilled to announce the launch of the Dedaub TX Simulator Snap, a tool to transform how users engage with blockchain transactions.
What is the Dedaub TX Simulator Snap?
The Dedaub TX Simulator Snap is a cutting-edge tool that enables users to simulate transactions, evaluate the reliability and credibility of the accounts involved, and determine the financial consequences of their actions. Leveraging the extensive Smart Contract Database of Dedaub in real time, it provides users with up-to-date and comprehensive insights to make informed decisions.
Grant Permissions: The Snap will request the necessary access permissions during installation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
HOW DOES THE DEDAUB TRANSACTION SIMULATOR WORK?
The Dedaub Transaction Simulator interfaces with Dedaub’s Smart Contract database, conducting real-time simulations of transactions that mirror the conditions of the specified network.
WHAT ARE THE KEY BENEFITS OF USING THE DEDAUB TX SIMULATOR?
Cost Efficiency: Save on gas fees by avoiding reverted transactions.
Informed Decision-making: Understand the financial implications of transactions before sending them on-chain.
Detailed Analysis: Get a comprehensive overview of asset transfers, state changes, gas consumption, and more.
HOW DO YOU INSTALL AND USE THE DEDAUB TX SIMULATOR?
The Dedaub Transaction Simulator does not execute transactions on-chain. Instead, it simulates them based on the network’s current state. During the testing phase, it does not carry out any actual transactions.
WHAT NETWORKS DOES THE SIMULATOR SUPPORT?
The currently supported networks are Ethereum Mainnet, Arbitrum, Optimism, Fantom, Avalanche, and Base.
HOW DO I REACH OUT FOR SUPPORT?
For any support inquiries related to the Dedaub Transaction Simulator, please contact our support team at contact@dedaub.com or through our Discord Support Channel.
About Dedaub
Dedaub has a history of over 200 audits for leading Web3 protocols and successful white-hat hacking endeavors that have safeguarded billions in Total Value Locked (TVL). The Ethereum Foundation trusts our team. We integrate academic research with practical hacker experience to offer unparalleled security services. To learn more about our journey and services, please visit https://dedaub.com.
Transaction simulation tools improve developer and user experience when operating decentralized Web3 applications (Smart Contracts running on programmable blockchains).
These tools can lower the risk and guesswork during development, deployment, and subsequent operation of Web3 applications. And they’re particularly useful in hostile security environments such as public blockchains.
Transaction simulation tools allow developers and users to “dry-run” the execution of transactions on the blockchain without committing the state changes of this transaction to the ledger.
For example, an end user can deposit funds in a yield farming vault and understand what proportion of the vault the deposit would be entitled to.
Another example is the simulation of a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) proposal to evaluate its integrity and functionality, ensuring it’s not malicious before implementation.
In this article, we will explore the user experience and security issues that users and developers face when interacting with Web3 applications and how transaction simulation tools can help mitigate them.
By the end of this article, you’ll better understand what transaction simulation tools do, how they work, and how they can improve both user and developer experience.
The Need for Transaction Simulation Solutions in Blockchain
Web3 applications, such as DeFi applications, enable novel financial primitives with many more possibilities for end users. However, the complexity and irreversibility of blockchain transactions have led to unexpected fund losses for many users, often due to poorly designed interfaces in these applications.
Loss of funds is not the only issue for Web3 applications. We often face reverted or out-of-gas transactions, wasting funds, which is especially detrimental to our experience when interacting with Web3 applications.
The impact of these challenges is not limited to regular end-users. Developers and Web3 teams face the complex task of ensuring their contracts perform as intended.
Interacting with a blockchain protocol in a complex manner, for instance, through a multisig account, is a highly daunting task. Typically, it can be accomplished by forking the blockchain, but this is time-consuming.
Real-world scenarios underscore how critical transaction simulation solutions are. For instance, in platforms Yearn Finance or Uniswap Labs, where complex financial transactions are constant, the necessity to simulate transactions is invaluable.
In these cases, simulations allow users to review the outcomes of Smart Contract transactions in a controlled environment, giving teams time to identify and address potential issues before running them on-chain.
Types of Transaction Simulation Solutions Available
The market offers a variety of transaction simulation solutions, each catering to different needs and preferences.
Browser Extensions are popular for their ease of use, integrating with web browsers to offer simulation capabilities alongside wallet interactions.
In-Wallet Simulations integrate with the wallet software, providing a seamless experience for users to simulate transactions within the wallet interface.
Standalone Tools are comprehensive software solutions. These offer advanced features and greater flexibility for complex simulations. Developers and organizations needing detailed analyses and custom simulation scenarios prefer standalone tools.
Advantages of Using Transaction Simulation Tools
ERROR PREVENTION
Error prevention is a crucial advantage of transaction simulation tools, as they enable developers to simulate transactions in a controlled environment.
This process helps identify and correct errors before executing them on the blockchain, significantly reducing the likelihood of costly mistakes such as failed transactions that consume resources without achieving their intended outcomes.
Consequently, these tools greatly enhance blockchain applications’ overall reliability and efficiency.
EDUCATIONAL VALUE
For newcomers to blockchain development, transaction simulation solutions are invaluable educational resources. They provide a hands-on, risk-free platform for understanding the intricacies of blockchain transactions.
They allow developers to experiment with different scenarios, gaining practical insights into the operation of Smart Contracts. This experiential learning accelerates any developer’s expertise in blockchain technology, empowering them to build more sophisticated and secure dApps.
Choosing the Right Transaction Simulation Solution
Selecting an appropriate transaction simulation solution is crucial for blockchain developers. These tools come in various forms, each suited to different needs and environments.
Factors to Consider:
Network Support: Ensure the tool supports all relevant blockchain networks your project interacts with. For instance, if your Smart Contract runs on Ethereum and Polygon, the chosen transaction simulation solution must accommodate both.
Ease of Integration: Assess how seamlessly the tool integrates into your existing development. A smooth integration minimizes disruptions and maintains development flow.
User Experience: Assess the tool’s user interface and usability. A good simulator should offer clear insights into the transaction process, aiding decision-making and error identification.
Type of Tool: Decide between browser extensions and wallet-based simulators. Browser extensions are generally more flexible and accessible to test across various wallets, whereas wallet-based solutions offer a more integrated experience.
EVALUATION CRITERIA:
Reliability and Support: Investigate the tool’s performance history and the provider’s responsiveness to support queries and updates.
Track Record: Consider the provider’s reputation within the blockchain community. Long-standing, positively reviewed tools often indicate reliability and efficacy.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Opt for solutions that prioritize security and accuracy in transaction simulation.
Avoid tools that are overly complex or do not offer transparent processes, as these can hinder rather than help your development efforts.
Stay informed about the latest developments in transaction simulation technologies to ensure your choice remains relevant and effective.
Selecting the right tool is crucial. It must meet technical requirements and adhere to the highest security and efficiency standards in the blockchain space.
Dedaub Watchdog Transaction Simulator
The Dedaub Watchdog Transaction Simulator allows users to simulate transactions when interacting with complex Smart Contracts before committing to the main chain.
It allows an understanding of all the various actions that would happen without the risk of losing funds. The Dedaub Watchdog transaction simulation provides three approaches, depending on specific use cases:
Through the Dedaub Simulation API, developers can integrate simulation directly into their applications.
Through the read/write/simulate feature on any Smart Contract page in Watchdog.
When used by an end-user, such as in the latter two approaches, the transaction simulation presents relevant information in convenient formats through the Watchdog UI.
One such format is the (i) trace format, which contains all intermediate Smart Contract functions called, new Smart Contracts created, and events fired.
The other format contains fund transfer, and (ii) includes the amount of funds transferred, both for the user and other participants in the transaction.
(Trace format above)
(funds transferred above)
When used by Web3 users, an important use case is checking the legitimacy and reliability of the accounts and Smart Contracts involved in the transaction. By simulating transactions, users can also gain insight into potential outcomes, allowing them to identify risks proactively.
The Dedaub Watchdog Transaction Simulator leverages the Dedaub Smart Contract database. The database offers detailed, real-time information on all deployed Smart Contracts on-chain, providing deep insights into the workings of Smart Contracts.
Conclusion
In conclusion, transaction simulation tools, particularly those exemplified by the Dedaub Watchdog Transaction Simulator, represent an advancement in Web3 application development and user interaction. They provide an extra layer of security and insight, allowing developers and end-users to identify and rectify potential issues in Smart Contract transactions promptly. These tools prevent costly errors and fund losses and serve as educational resources for those new to blockchain technology. With their ability to simulate complex financial transactions in a controlled environment, transaction simulation solutions enhance the efficiency, reliability, and overall user experience of interacting with Web3 applications.
Smart Contract Audit Essentials: Navigating the Web 3 Landscape with Expertise and Security
With blockchain platforms, Smart Contract Audits play a critical role in ensuring the security and reliability of decentralized applications. These audits are routine checks and an indispensable part of the development process, safeguarding all transactions and agreements that define the blockchain ecosystem.
Smart Contracts, with their immutable and autonomous nature, demand absolute precision in their code. Any oversight or vulnerability can lead to significant financial losses or erode trust in the technology.
At Dedaub, we blend academic thoroughness with a hacker’s practical acumen to delve deep into Smart Contract code. The main goal of a Smart Contract Audit is to eliminate faults. Our approach is to understand the intricacies of each contract and its potential pitfalls, to provide solutions that fortify its foundation.
To date, we have conducted over 200 rigorous audits for leading blockchain protocols and safeguarded billions in Total Value Locked (TVL).
Leading blockchain clients such as the Ethereum Foundation, Chainlink, and Coinbase have placed their trust in us, not just for our ability to spot vulnerabilities but for our commitment to elevating the standards of blockchain security.
The Critical Role of Audits in Blockchain Security
At its core, a Smart Contract Audit is a meticulous process where experts scrutinize the code of a blockchain Smart Contract (SC) to identify vulnerabilities, inefficiencies, and potential exploits.
The systematic examination of Smart Contract Audits is crucial in the blockchain domain, where SCs play a pivotal role in automating, verifying, and enforcing the terms of a digital contract. This is essential when using blockchain technology because transactions are irreversible, making the accuracy and security of SCs essential.
Smart Contract Audits combine automated tools with expert reviews. The process starts with thoroughly analyzing the contract’s design and architecture. It continues with a detailed line-by-line code examination to uncover hidden issues.
Auditors look for common vulnerabilities like reentrancy attacks, overflow/underflow issues, gas limit problems, and more nuanced logic errors that could compromise the contract’s functionality.
Dedaub is a reliable partner with expertise and dedication to excellence. We specialize in ensuring that Smart Contracts adhere to the highest security and reliability standards, regardless of the protocol used.
The Dedaub Audit Methodology
At Dedaub, each of our Smart Contract Audits is a meticulously crafted process. Each one uniquely combines academic precision with practical hacking insights. This comprehensive approach is structured into five stages, ensuring a thorough and effective audit tailored to each project’s needs.
Stage 1: Cost and Schedule Proposal
Our process begins with carefully assessing the Smart Contract’s codebase, considering its scope and complexity. We formulate a cost-effective proposal and a realistic timeline that aligns with your project’s deadlines and budget constraints. This initial stage sets the groundwork for a well-organized audit process.
Stage 2: Audit Commencement
In the second stage, our experts dedicate the agreed time to analyze your Smart Contract thoroughly. This phase includes ongoing interaction with your development team. This fosters a collaborative and efficient audit, where we examine every aspect of the Smart Contracts to identify potential vulnerabilities.
Stage 3: Preliminary Findings Delivery
We then categorize and detail the findings in a preliminary report, classifying them by risk level: Critical, High, Medium, Low, or Advisory. A discussion session with your team is held at this stage to clarify any issues and set the groundwork for the next improvement steps.
Stage 4: Issue Resolution Process
At this stage, your developers work to address the identified issues, guided by our tailored advice provided in the initial report. This collaborative approach ensures the effective implementation of solutions to enhance the contract’s security and functionality.
Stage 5: Final Review and Report
In the final stage, we conduct a comprehensive post-mitigation review to confirm the resolution of all issues. The process culminates with a detailed final report documenting the entire audit process and its outcomes. This results in a clear roadmap for ongoing Smart Contract security.
Dedaub’s audit methodology is designed to ensure precise and practical auditing of Smart Contracts. Our approach helps to enhance the security of blockchain projects by effectively identifying and addressing potential vulnerabilities.
The EIP 6404 and EIP 6466 is a study to assess the potential impact of Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) 6404 and 6466. In a project commissioned by the Ethereum Foundation, Dedaub undertook an extensive study to assess the potential impact of Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) 6404 and 6466.
These EIPs proposed significant modifications to the Ethereum network, particularly in the serialization algorithm for transactions and receipts. This shift involved moving from the Recursive Length Prefix (RLP) format to the Simple Serialize (SSZ) format.
This change directly impacted the Receipts Root and Transactions Root fields in the execution layer headers, presenting a complex challenge for existing Smart Contracts on the Ethereum mainnet.
The Challenge
The primary concern was the potential disruption to contracts relying on RLP for proofs, especially those critical to decentralized bridges. These bridges play a crucial role in creating proofs about historical transaction logs.
Our objective was to quantify and qualify the extent of potential disruption and identify specific on-chain patterns verifying commitments in this new manner. This required a detailed, semi-automated examination of all Smart Contracts on the Ethereum network, analyzing their recent behavior to gauge the impact of these changes.
Our Approach
We analyzed various Smart Contracts, identifying those critical to projects and assessing possible mitigating actions. Our team concentrated on evaluating the impact of these changes, especially on projects involving cross-chain bridges, and considered both on-chain solutions like upgrades and off-chain strategies like modifying oracles.
Findings and Impact
Our study revealed that the changes proposed in the EIPs notably affected a handful of projects, predominantly cross-chain bridges. Some of the key projects impacted included:
Interestingly, our findings showed that out of the two proposed EIPs, only EIP-6466 (Receipts Root EIP) significantly impacted the inspected protocols. This was due to its effect on log-inclusion proofs, a common method for conducting cross-chain message passing.
Why Choose Dedaub for Smart Contract Audits?
If you’re looking to get a Smart Contract audit for your blockchain project, choosing the right partner is important. Dedaub is a reliable and trustworthy choice in this regard, not just because of our technical expertise but also because of the values we stand for – integrity, innovation, and the empowerment of blockchain talent. Our approach is rooted in these core values, directly translating into our high-quality audits.
Integrity in Every Audit
At Dedaub, integrity is at the forefront of everything we do. This means conducting audits with the utmost honesty, thoroughness, and transparency. Our clients’ trust in us is integral to their success.
Our commitment to integrity ensures that every audit is conducted with meticulous attention to detail, offering our clients a true and complete assessment of their Smart Contract’s security.
Pioneering Innovation
Innovation is key in the rapidly evolving blockchain landscape. Our team constantly explores the latest advancements in blockchain technology and Smart Contract development. This pursuit of innovation enables us to provide cutting-edge solutions to our clients, ensuring their Smart Contracts are resilient against current and future security threats.
Empowering Blockchain Talent
We believe in empowering the next generation of blockchain professionals. Through our Smart Contract Audits, we secure our clients’ projects and share knowledge and insights that contribute to the overall growth of the blockchain community.
By educating and nurturing talent, we’re helping to build a more secure and robust blockchain ecosystem.
These core values of Dedaub translate into a thorough and forward-thinking audit service that contributes positively to the broader blockchain community. Choosing Dedaub means partnering with a team that is deeply invested in the success and security of your project, as well as the advancement of the entire blockchain industry.
The Future of Smart Contract Audits, Embracing ZK Audits and Beyond
The landscape of Smart Contract Auditing is constantly evolving and is being influenced by groundbreaking trends and innovations. One of these trends is the emergence of Zero-Knowledge (ZK) proofs, a pivotal technology that is reshaping how audits are conducted. At Dedaub, we are always at the forefront of these advancements and are integrating them to offer more robust and sophisticated audit services.
Our team has a combination of cryptography expertise and hands-on knowledge of ZK-proof systems and technologies. Our auditors invest significant time in continuous education on foundational knowledge and applied knowledge, with a recent emphasis on the domain of zero-knowledge proofs.
Conclusion
The significance of Smart Contract Audits in fortifying the Web3 ecosystem cannot be overstated. As the digital landscape evolves, these audits form the backbone of trust and security, ensuring blockchain technologies function as intended and uphold the highest standards of reliability and integrity.
Dedaub, with our unique blend of academic rigor and practical expertise, stands as a vanguard in this field. We offer comprehensive audits that safeguard against vulnerabilities and fortify the foundations of decentralized applications.
We invite you to leverage our extensive experience and expertise. Contact us at Dedaub to discuss how we can elevate the security and performance of your Smart Contracts, paving the way for a safer, more robust Web3 future.
