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Glossary

Infinite Approval

November 21, 2023 - Around 4 mins mins to read

Infinite approval is a concept in smart contract programming that allows a smart contract to access an unlimited number of tokens from a user’s wallet, rather than just the necessary amount. This concept is often viewed as problematic due to the potential security risks it poses.

When a user interacts with a smart contract that has infinite approval, they are required to authorize the contract to withdraw an unlimited number of tokens from their wallet. This means that if a vulnerability exists in the smart contract’s code, it could potentially be exploited by a malicious actor to gain access to all of the user’s authorized tokens.

An example of a smart contract that had implemented infinite approval is found in the decentralized exchange Bancor. Initially, when a user interacts with Bancor’s system, they are asked to authorize the smart contract to withdraw an unlimited number of tokens from their wallet. However, this created a vulnerability that could have allowed a hacker to steal all of the user’s authorized tokens.

Fortunately, the developers of Bancor identified this vulnerability before any malicious actors could exploit it. They swiftly made adjustments to their systems so that only the necessary amount of tokens would be requested for approval. As an additional precaution, the developers temporarily assumed control of user funds and later returned them to ensure the safety of the users’ assets.

Following the controversy surrounding Bancor, it was discovered that infinite approval is a common practice among decentralized application (dApp) programmers. Many popular dApps such as Compound, Uniswap, bZX, Aave, Kyber, and dYdX incorporate infinite or significantly large approvals.

Let’s take the example of a liquidity provider in a decentralized exchange. A liquidity provider contributes a certain amount of assets to a liquidity pool, enabling trading between different assets. In this example, let’s say the liquidity provider contributes $5,000 worth of Ether (ETH) and $5,000 worth of the USD-pegged decentralized stablecoin DAI to a liquidity pool.

By contributing to the liquidity pool, the provider allows users to trade between ETH and DAI with ease. Whenever a trade occurs on the ETH/DAI trading pair, the liquidity provider receives compensation for their contribution to the pool. This compensation is typically in the form of a share of the trading fees generated by the exchange.

With infinite approval, the liquidity provider grants the smart contract access to an unlimited amount of their ETH and DAI. This enables the smart contract to efficiently manage the liquidity pool and perform trades on behalf of the provider.

However, this approach also introduces a security risk. If a vulnerability exists in the smart contract’s code, a malicious actor could potentially exploit it to drain the liquidity provider’s entire pool balance, including all the authorized tokens. The consequences of such an attack can be severe, as it may result in a significant loss of funds for the liquidity provider.

To mitigate the risks associated with infinite approval, developers are actively working on implementing various security measures. One approach is to limit the approval to the exact amount of tokens required for a specific transaction, rather than granting unlimited access. This ensures that only the necessary tokens are at risk if a vulnerability is exploited.

Additionally, auditing smart contracts thoroughly and conducting third-party security audits are essential to identify and address potential vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. By following best practices and continuously improving the security of smart contracts, developers can help minimize the risks associated with infinite approval.

In conclusion, infinite approval is a concept in smart contract programming that allows a smart contract to access an unlimited number of tokens from a user’s wallet. Although it offers convenience and efficiency in certain decentralized applications, it also introduces security risks. It is crucial for developers and users to be aware of these risks and implement appropriate security measures to protect against potential attacks.

Author

Coincu

Glossary

Infinite Approval

Infinite approval is a concept in smart contract programming that allows a smart contract to access an unlimited number of tokens from a user’s wallet, rather than just the necessary amount. This concept is often viewed as problematic due to the potential security risks it poses.

When a user interacts with a smart contract that has infinite approval, they are required to authorize the contract to withdraw an unlimited number of tokens from their wallet. This means that if a vulnerability exists in the smart contract’s code, it could potentially be exploited by a malicious actor to gain access to all of the user’s authorized tokens.

An example of a smart contract that had implemented infinite approval is found in the decentralized exchange Bancor. Initially, when a user interacts with Bancor’s system, they are asked to authorize the smart contract to withdraw an unlimited number of tokens from their wallet. However, this created a vulnerability that could have allowed a hacker to steal all of the user’s authorized tokens.

Fortunately, the developers of Bancor identified this vulnerability before any malicious actors could exploit it. They swiftly made adjustments to their systems so that only the necessary amount of tokens would be requested for approval. As an additional precaution, the developers temporarily assumed control of user funds and later returned them to ensure the safety of the users’ assets.

Following the controversy surrounding Bancor, it was discovered that infinite approval is a common practice among decentralized application (dApp) programmers. Many popular dApps such as Compound, Uniswap, bZX, Aave, Kyber, and dYdX incorporate infinite or significantly large approvals.

Let’s take the example of a liquidity provider in a decentralized exchange. A liquidity provider contributes a certain amount of assets to a liquidity pool, enabling trading between different assets. In this example, let’s say the liquidity provider contributes $5,000 worth of Ether (ETH) and $5,000 worth of the USD-pegged decentralized stablecoin DAI to a liquidity pool.

By contributing to the liquidity pool, the provider allows users to trade between ETH and DAI with ease. Whenever a trade occurs on the ETH/DAI trading pair, the liquidity provider receives compensation for their contribution to the pool. This compensation is typically in the form of a share of the trading fees generated by the exchange.

With infinite approval, the liquidity provider grants the smart contract access to an unlimited amount of their ETH and DAI. This enables the smart contract to efficiently manage the liquidity pool and perform trades on behalf of the provider.

However, this approach also introduces a security risk. If a vulnerability exists in the smart contract’s code, a malicious actor could potentially exploit it to drain the liquidity provider’s entire pool balance, including all the authorized tokens. The consequences of such an attack can be severe, as it may result in a significant loss of funds for the liquidity provider.

To mitigate the risks associated with infinite approval, developers are actively working on implementing various security measures. One approach is to limit the approval to the exact amount of tokens required for a specific transaction, rather than granting unlimited access. This ensures that only the necessary tokens are at risk if a vulnerability is exploited.

Additionally, auditing smart contracts thoroughly and conducting third-party security audits are essential to identify and address potential vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. By following best practices and continuously improving the security of smart contracts, developers can help minimize the risks associated with infinite approval.

In conclusion, infinite approval is a concept in smart contract programming that allows a smart contract to access an unlimited number of tokens from a user’s wallet. Although it offers convenience and efficiency in certain decentralized applications, it also introduces security risks. It is crucial for developers and users to be aware of these risks and implement appropriate security measures to protect against potential attacks.

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