The _addguess function of a simplelottery smart contract implementation for 1000 Guess, an Ethereum gambling game, generates a random value with publicly readable variables such as the current block information and a private variable (which can be read with a getStorageAt call). Therefore, it allows attackers to always win and get rewards.
The product uses a Pseudo-Random Number Generator (PRNG) in a security context, but the PRNG’s algorithm is not cryptographically strong.
| Name | Vendor | Start Version | End Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1000_guess | 1000guess | - (including) | - (including) |
When a non-cryptographic PRNG is used in a cryptographic context, it can expose the cryptography to certain types of attacks. Often a pseudo-random number generator (PRNG) is not designed for cryptography. Sometimes a mediocre source of randomness is sufficient or preferable for algorithms that use random numbers. Weak generators generally take less processing power and/or do not use the precious, finite, entropy sources on a system. While such PRNGs might have very useful features, these same features could be used to break the cryptography.