Snowman Merkle Airdrop

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

Global `s_earnTimer` in `Snow` allows a single user to permanently DoS `earnSnow()` for all users

Description

  • The Snow contract allows users to earn 1 free Snow token per week via earnSnow(). The function uses s_earnTimer to enforce a one-week cooldown between calls. Each user is intended to earn independently.

  • s_earnTimer is a single global uint256 variable shared across all users, not a per-user mapping. When any user calls earnSnow() or buySnow(), the timer resets for everyone. An attacker calling earnSnow() once per week permanently blocks all other users from earning free tokens.

// src/Snow.sol:92-99
function earnSnow() external canFarmSnow {
if (s_earnTimer != 0 && block.timestamp < (s_earnTimer + 1 weeks)) {
revert S__Timer(); // @> Checks GLOBAL timer, not per-user
}
_mint(msg.sender, 1);
s_earnTimer = block.timestamp; // @> Resets timer for ALL users
}
// src/Snow.sol:79-89
function buySnow(uint256 amount) external payable canFarmSnow {
// ... payment logic ...
s_earnTimer = block.timestamp; // @> buySnow ALSO resets the global timer
emit SnowBought(msg.sender, amount);
}

Risk

Likelihood:

  • Attacker only needs to call earnSnow() once per week — costs only gas

  • buySnow() also resets the timer, so any purchase activity triggers the DoS for everyone

Impact:

  • All users except the first caller per week are blocked from earning free Snow tokens

  • Users are forced to buy Snow with ETH/WETH instead of earning for free

  • A single attacker can monopolize the free Snow distribution for the entire 12-week farming period

Proof of Concept

// SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
pragma solidity ^0.8.24;
import {Test, console2} from "forge-std/Test.sol";
import {Snow} from "../src/Snow.sol";
import {Snowman} from "../src/Snowman.sol";
import {SnowmanAirdrop} from "../src/SnowmanAirdrop.sol";
import {Helper} from "../script/Helper.s.sol";
import {MockWETH} from "../src/mock/MockWETH.sol";
contract PoC_H03 is Test {
Snow snow;
Snowman nft;
SnowmanAirdrop airdrop;
MockWETH weth;
address alice;
address bob;
address attacker;
function setUp() public {
Helper deployer = new Helper();
(airdrop, snow, nft, weth) = deployer.run();
alice = makeAddr("alice");
bob = makeAddr("bob");
attacker = makeAddr("attacker");
}
// H-03: s_earnTimer is a single global variable, not per-user.
// Any user calling earnSnow() or buySnow() resets the timer for ALL users.
// An attacker can call earnSnow() once/week to permanently DoS everyone else.
function test_H03_GlobalEarnTimerDoS() public {
vm.warp(block.timestamp + 1 weeks);
// Attacker earns Snow - resets the GLOBAL timer
vm.prank(attacker);
snow.earnSnow();
console2.log("Attacker earned Snow at timestamp:", block.timestamp);
// Bob tries to earn - reverts because attacker already reset the global timer
vm.prank(bob);
vm.expectRevert(Snow.S__Timer.selector);
snow.earnSnow();
console2.log("Bob BLOCKED from earning Snow - global timer prevents it");
// Alice is also blocked
vm.prank(alice);
vm.expectRevert(Snow.S__Timer.selector);
snow.earnSnow();
console2.log("Alice BLOCKED from earning Snow - global timer prevents it");
// Attacker repeats next week to maintain indefinite DoS
vm.warp(block.timestamp + 1 weeks);
vm.prank(attacker);
snow.earnSnow();
console2.log("Attacker earns again, resetting timer for another week");
vm.prank(bob);
vm.expectRevert(Snow.S__Timer.selector);
snow.earnSnow();
console2.log("Bob STILL blocked - attacker maintains DoS indefinitely");
}
}

Output:

[PASS] test_H03_GlobalEarnTimerDoS() (gas: 92408)
Logs:
Attacker earned Snow at timestamp: 3024001
Bob BLOCKED from earning Snow - global timer prevents it
Alice BLOCKED from earning Snow - global timer prevents it
Attacker earns again, resetting timer for another week
Bob STILL blocked - attacker maintains DoS indefinitely

Recommended Mitigation

Replace the single uint256 s_earnTimer variable with a mapping(address => uint256) so each user has their own independent cooldown. Additionally, remove the s_earnTimer = block.timestamp line from buySnow, since purchasing Snow with ETH/WETH should not affect the free-earn cooldown for any user.

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

Lead Judging Commences

ai-first-flight-judge Lead Judge about 1 hour 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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