A $3.4 million attack hit ZkSync’s largest lender EraLend

‘EraLend,’ a leading Ethereum scaling blockchain lending protocol, has suffered a substantial loss of $3.4 million due to a recent security breach. An attacker exploits a vulnerability in EraLend’s smart contract code to withdraw more funds than authorized in a single transaction via a read-only reentrancy attack. Blockchain security firm CertiK confirmed the nature of the attack.

EraLend’s locked capital dropped significantly after this incident, dropping from $18.5 million to $7.7 million, according to DefiLlama. Focusing on a particular vulnerability in a read-only function that is usually deemed safe because it cannot change the contract’s state, the attack cunningly targeted EraLend. This function typically performs view actions like calculating token balances without modifying data. 

However, by exploiting a reentrancy vulnerability, the hacker cleverly manipulated this function and continuously called it, resulting in the depletion of assets from EraLend. The main point of exploitation was an unreliable price oracle that EraLend heavily depended on, eventually enabling the attacker to drain substantial funds from the protocol.

Despite the breach, EraLend suspended all borrowing operations and cautioned users against depositing USD Coin (USDC) until resolved. The team has been collaborating with cybersecurity firms and partners to thoroughly investigate the attack and implement the necessary security measures. 

Similar attacks occurred last week, which resulted in $3.6 million in losses for the decentralized finance protocol Conic Finance. As attackers continue to exploit vulnerabilities in smart contract code, such incidents highlight the urgency for strengthened security measures in the DeFi space.

Although EraLend has suffered this setback, it remains committed to strengthening its security infrastructure to protect user funds and build community trust. In order to safeguard user assets and maintain the integrity of decentralized platforms, proactive security measures and constant vigilance are required to safeguard the rapidly evolving DeFi ecosystem.

As EraLend strives to recover from this security breach, industry experts emphasize the importance of ongoing efforts to audit and fortify smart contracts, conduct thorough vulnerability assessments, and implement robust security protocols. It is evident that as DeFi platforms expand, so does the need for stringent security measures to counter the ever-evolving threat landscape.

This incident is a stark reminder to all DeFi projects to prioritize security and proactively address potential vulnerabilities. The DeFi community must collaborate and share best practices to create a safer and more secure decentralized financial ecosystem for all participants.

Source: https://www.cryptonewsz.com/a-3-4-million-attack-hit-zksyncs-largest-lender-eralend/