President Elector

Summary

The RankedChoice::selectPresident() function relies on block.timestamp to determine when voting can occur. While this approach works in most cases, it introduces potential risks due to the manipulability of block.timestamp by miners. Although the manipulation window is relatively small, it can still lead to premature or delayed voting. To improve robustness, a time buffer should be implemented to mitigate risks related to timestamp inaccuracies.

Vulnerability Details

Vulnerability: Inaccurate Time-based Voting with block.timestamp

The current implementation uses block.timestamp to calculate whether the presidential voting duration has passed:

While convenient, block.timestamp is susceptible to manipulation by miners, who can adjust it slightly within a few seconds. This could lead to:

1. Premature voting, where miners manipulate timestamps to allow voting earlier than intended.

2. Delayed voting, where congestion or delays in the network cause inaccuracies in the expected voting times.

Impact

Although the manipulation window is small (up to 15 minutes), it can still impact time-sensitive operations in the contract, such as voting intervals. Premature or delayed voting might result in an unexpected outcome in the presidential election, especially if certain voters rely on precise timing to participate.

Consequences:

Election Manipulation: A malicious miner could exploit the timestamp to allow voting slightly earlier or delay the voting process, which could undermine the fairness of the election process.
Reduced Reliability: Overreliance on block.timestamp makes the system prone to network latency, miner strategies, and inconsistencies in election timing.

Tools Used

Manual review

Recommendations

1. Implement a Time Buffer: Add a buffer period to account for possible timestamp manipulation. This buffer ensures that minor changes to block.timestamp won't affect the eligibility window for voting.