Snowman Merkle Airdrop

AI First Flight #10
Beginner FriendlyFoundrySolidityNFT
EXP
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Submission Details
Severity: low
Valid

buySnow() Resets Global Earn Timer → Permanent DoS of Free Minting

Root + Impact

Description

Normal Behavior

The earnSnow() function is intended to allow each user to mint 1 Snow token per week for free, until the farming period ends.

Purchasing Snow tokens via buySnow() should not interfere with other users’ ability to earn Snow.

Issue

The buySnow() function resets the global s_earnTimer, which is also used by earnSnow() to enforce the weekly limit.

Because the timer is shared across all users, any call to buySnow() prevents everyone else from calling earnSnow() for an additional week.

function buySnow(uint256 amount) external payable canFarmSnow {
if (msg.value == (s_buyFee * amount)) {
_mint(msg.sender, amount);
} else {
i_weth.safeTransferFrom(msg.sender, address(this), (s_buyFee * amount));
_mint(msg.sender, amount);
}
@> s_earnTimer = block.timestamp;
emit SnowBought(msg.sender, amount);
}

The same variable is later used here:

function earnSnow() external canFarmSnow {
if (s_earnTimer != 0 && block.timestamp < (s_earnTimer + 1 weeks)) {
revert S__Timer();
}
_mint(msg.sender, 1);
s_earnTimer = block.timestamp;
}

Risk

Likelihood:

  • Reason 1: Permissionless: Anyone can call buySnow()

  • Reason 2: Low cost: Can be executed with minimal amount

Impact:

  • Impact 1: Free Snow minting can be griefed indefinitely

  • Impact 2: Centralizes access to Snow minting to paying users

Proof of Concept

This proof of concept demonstrates that the earnSnow() minting restriction
is enforced globally rather than per user.

Because the s\_earnTimer variable is shared across all callers, any call to
buySnow() resets the cooldown timer for everyone.

As a result, a single user can permanently prevent all other users from
accessing the free Snow minting mechanism by repeatedly calling buySnow().

1. User A successfully calls earnSnow()
→ s_earnTimer is set
2. Before one week passes, any attacker calls buySnow()
→ s_earnTimer is reset
3. All other users now fail when calling earnSnow():
revert S__Timer();
4. Attacker can repeatedly call buySnow() (even with amount = 1)
to permanently block free Snow earning for all users

Recommended Mitigation

Separate earn tracking from buy logic, and scope timers per user.

- uint256 private s_earnTimer;
+ mapping(address => uint256) private s_lastEarnTime;
function buySnow(uint256 amount) external payable canFarmSnow {
...
- s_earnTimer = block.timestamp;
}
function earnSnow() external canFarmSnow {
if (
s_lastEarnTime[msg.sender] != 0 &&
block.timestamp < s_lastEarnTime[msg.sender] + 1 weeks
) {
revert S__Timer();
}
s_lastEarnTime[msg.sender] = block.timestamp;
_mint(msg.sender, 1);
}
Updates

Lead Judging Commences

ai-first-flight-judge Lead Judge 1 day ago
Submission Judgement Published
Validated
Assigned finding tags:

[L-02] Global Timer Reset in Snow::buySnow Denies Free Claims for All Users

## Description: The `Snow::buySnow` function contains a critical flaw where it resets a global timer `(s_earnTimer)` to the current block timestamp on every invocation. This timer controls eligibility for free token claims via `Snow::earnSnow()`, which requires 1 week to pass since the last timer reset. As a result: Any token purchase `(via buySnow)` blocks all free claims for all users for 7 days Malicious actors can permanently suppress free claims with micro-transactions Contradicts protocol documentation promising **"free weekly claims per user"** ## Impact: * **Complete Denial-of-Service:** Free claim mechanism becomes unusable * **Broken Protocol Incentives:** Undermines core user acquisition strategy * **Economic Damage:** Eliminates promised free distribution channel * **Reputation Harm:** Users perceive protocol as dishonest ```solidity function buySnow(uint256 amount) external payable canFarmSnow { if (msg.value == (s_buyFee * amount)) { _mint(msg.sender, amount); } else { i_weth.safeTransferFrom(msg.sender, address(this), (s_buyFee * amount)); _mint(msg.sender, amount); } @> s_earnTimer = block.timestamp; emit SnowBought(msg.sender, amount); } ``` ## Risk **Likelihood**: • Triggered by normal protocol usage (any purchase) • Requires only one transaction every 7 days to maintain blockage • Incentivized attack (low-cost disruption) **Impact**: • Permanent suppression of core protocol feature • Loss of user trust and adoption • Violates documented tokenomics ## Proof of Concept **Attack Scenario:** Permanent Free Claim Suppression * Attacker calls **buySnow(1)** with minimum payment * **s\_earnTimer** sets to current timestamp (T0) * All **earnSnow()** calls revert for **next 7 days** * On day 6, attacker repeats **buySnow(1)** * New timer reset (T1 = T0+6 days) * Free claims blocked until **T1+7 days (total 13 days)** * Repeat step **4 every 6 days → permanent blockage** **Test Case:** ```solidity // Day 0: Deploy contract snow = new Snow(...); // s_earnTimer = 0 // UserA claims successfully snow.earnSnow(); // Success (first claim always allowed) // Day 1: UserB buys 1 token snow.buySnow(1); // Resets global timer to day 1 // Day 2: UserA attempts claim snow.earnSnow(); // Reverts! Requires day 1+7 = day 8 // Day 7: UserC buys 1 token (day 7 < day 1+7) snow.buySnow(1); // Resets timer to day 7 // Day 8: UserA retries snow.earnSnow(); // Still reverts! Now requires day 7+7 = day 14 ``` ## Recommended Mitigation **Step 1:** Remove Global Timer Reset from `buySnow` ```diff function buySnow(uint256 amount) external payable canFarmSnow { // ... existing payment logic ... - s_earnTimer = block.timestamp; emit SnowBought(msg.sender, amount); } ``` **Step 2:** Implement Per-User Timer in `earnSnow` ```solidity // Add new state variable mapping(address => uint256) private s_lastClaimTime; function earnSnow() external canFarmSnow { // Check per-user timer instead of global if (s_lastClaimTime[msg.sender] != 0 && block.timestamp < s_lastClaimTime[msg.sender] + 1 weeks ) { revert S__Timer(); } _mint(msg.sender, 1); s_lastClaimTime[msg.sender] = block.timestamp; // Update user-specific timer emit SnowEarned(msg.sender, 1); // Add missing event } ``` **Step 3:** Initialize First Claim (Constructor) ```solidity constructor(...) { // Initialize with current timestamp to prevent immediate claims s_lastClaimTime[address(0)] = block.timestamp; } ```

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