Worldcoin’s Orb Had Serious Security Vulnerability in Operator Onboarding: CertiK

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5 Aug 2023
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Worldcoin is a cryptocurrency project that aims to create a global identity and financial network based on iris scans. The project claims that by scanning your iris with a device called the Orb, you can receive free Worldcoins and join the World ID ecosystem. However, the project has also faced criticism and controversy over its privacy and security practices.

In this article, we will explore one of the serious security vulnerabilities that was discovered by CertiK, a leading blockchain security firm, in the Worldcoin protocol. I will also discuss how the vulnerability was fixed, what are the implications for the project and its users, and what are some of the best practices for ensuring security in the Web3 world.



What is the vulnerability?

According to CertiK, the vulnerability was related to the operator onboarding process of the Worldcoin protocol. Operators are entities that run the Orb devices and collect iris scans from users. To become an operator, one has to go through a verification process that involves providing a legitimate company name, undergoing proper ID verification, and passing a vetting interview. However, CertiK found out that there was a way to bypass this verification process and become an operator without meeting any of these requirements. This means that anyone could potentially operate an Orb device and collect iris scans from unsuspecting users.

CertiK reported this vulnerability to Worldcoin through a standard whitehat disclosure procedure on May 29th, 2023. The Worldcoin security team confirmed the vulnerability and promptly issued a fix. CertiK verified and confirmed that the fix mitigated the threat. The details of the finding and how the vulnerability was mitigated will be made public at some point in the future.


Why is this vulnerability important?

This vulnerability is important because it exposes the risks and challenges of building a secure and trustworthy identity and financial network based on biometric data. Iris scans are sensitive personal information that can be used to identify individuals and link them to their online activities. If an attacker could operate an Orb device and collect iris scans from users, they could potentially compromise their privacy, security, and identity. For example, they could:

  • Sell or leak the iris scans to third parties for malicious purposes.
  • Use the iris scans to impersonate users and access their accounts or funds.
  • Use the iris scans to create fake or duplicate identities and manipulate the Worldcoin network.
  • Use the iris scans to track or target users based on their location or behavior.

Moreover, this vulnerability could also damage the reputation and credibility of the Worldcoin project and its vision. If users cannot trust that their iris scans are handled securely and ethically by verified operators, they may lose confidence in the project and its value proposition. This could affect the adoption and growth of the Worldcoin network and its ecosystem.


How can we prevent such vulnerabilities in the future?

The discovery of this vulnerability by CertiK highlights the importance of security audits and testing for any Web3 project, especially those that involve sensitive data or high-value transactions. Security audits are systematic examinations of a system or protocol to identify and eliminate any potential vulnerabilities or weaknesses that could compromise its functionality or integrity. Security testing is a process of simulating various attacks or scenarios on a system or protocol to evaluate its performance or resilience under different conditions.
Security audits and testing can help Web3 projects to:

  • Detect and fix any bugs or flaws in their code or design before they become exploitable.
  • Improve their security posture and compliance with industry standards and best practices.
  • Enhance their user experience and satisfaction by ensuring reliability and availability.
  • Increase their user trust and confidence by demonstrating transparency and accountability.
  • Reduce their legal and financial risks and liabilities by avoiding breaches or losses.


CertiK is one of the leading providers of security audits and testing for Web3 projects. CertiK utilizes best-in-class formal verification and AI technology to secure and monitor blockchains, smart contracts, and Web3 apps. CertiK has assessed over $364 billion worth of market cap, served over 3,990 clients, and detected over 60,000 vulnerabilities in the Web3 world. CertiK offers a comprehensive suite of tools to secure Web3 projects at scale, such as:

  • Smart Contract Audit: A thorough analysis of smart contract code to ensure its correctness, functionality, efficiency, and security.
  • L1 Chain Audit: A comprehensive assessment of blockchain protocols to verify their consensus mechanisms, network architecture, cryptography, scalability, interoperability, governance, etc.
  • Skynet: A real-time security monitoring platform that provides security scores, alerts, analytics, insights, recommendations, etc., for Web3 projects based on various metrics such as code quality, transaction behavior, social sentiment, etc.
  • KYC: A know-your-customer service that verifies the identity and background of Web3 projects’ operators, partners, investors, etc., to prevent fraud, money laundering, terrorism financing, etc.
  • Pentesting: A penetration testing service that simulates various attacks or scenarios on Web3 projects’ systems or protocols to evaluate their performance or resilience under different conditions.
  • Bug Bounty: A crowdsourced security testing service that incentivizes ethical hackers to find and report vulnerabilities in Web3 projects’ systems or protocols in exchange for rewards.
  • Skyharbor: A decentralized cloud computing platform that provides secure, scalable, and cost-effective computing resources for Web3 projects.


Conclusion

Worldcoin is a cryptocurrency project that aims to create a global identity and financial network based on iris scans. However, the project has also faced criticism and controversy over its privacy and security practices. In this article, we explored one of the serious security vulnerabilities that was discovered by CertiK, a leading blockchain security firm, in the Worldcoin protocol. I also discussed how the vulnerability was fixed, what are the implications for the project and its users, and what are some of the best practices for ensuring security in the Web3 world.

I hope you enjoyed reading this article and learned something new about Worldcoin and CertiK. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below. I would love to hear from you!


Sources:

  • (1) Worldcoin Bug Allowed Anyone to Become Orb Operator: CertiK | Decrypt.
  • (2) Worldcoin’s Orb had serious security vulnerability in operator ... | TradingView.
  • (3) Worldcoin’s Orb had serious security vulnerability in operator ... | Investing.com.
  • (4) Worldcoin | Worldcoin.
  • (5) Worldcoin - Wikipedia | Wikipedia.
  • (6) Worldcoin Global - Worldcoin Global | Worldcoin Global.
  • (7) CertiK | CertiK.
  • (8) CertiK - Investors, Leadership, and Team Background | CertiK.
  • (9) CertiK: Everything you need to know - TechStory | TechStory.


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