GHSA-jc6w-wmfc-fh33: Klever-Go KVM read-only execution can commit contract delete and upgrade side effects
Publisher note**Fixed in `v1.7.17`.** Operators running `< v1.7.17` should upgrade. Contract delete and upgrade host-core paths now reject execution when `runtime.ReadOnly()` is true. The invariant is regression-tested for delete, upgrade, storage writes, value transfers, and any VM output field that can later mutate chain state.Patch commits on `develop`: 333f6ec9, 68b94a40 (merged from private fork associated with the original advisory).This advisory was originally filed jointly with a separate P2P throttler DoS finding, now tracked under [GHSA-74m6-4hjp-7226](https://github.com/klever-io/klever-go/security/advisories/GHSA-74m6-4hjp-7226) so each issue receives its own CVE.The original disclosure from @LoGGGG240211 follows verbatim, including the embedded proof-of-concept source.Private Vulnerability ReportRepository: klever-io/klever-go
Reviewed commit: 405d01b0abbf0d3e73b4a990bd7394a01f200dc2
Disclosure channel: GitHub Private Vulnerability Reporting
Reporter GitHub account: LoGGGG2402112.2 KVM read-only execution can commit contract delete side effectsSeverity            : Medium
Confidence          : HIGH
Attack Complexity   : MEDIUM
PoC Status          : ConfirmedDescriptionKVM exposes `ExecuteReadOnlyWithTypedArguments` as a read-only execution mechanism. The hook saves the previous read-only state, sets `runtime.SetReadOnly(true)`, executes the destination context, and then restores the previous read-only state. However, the indirect contract delete and upgrade paths do not reject execution when `runtime.ReadOnly()` is true. As a result, a contract reached through read-only execution can call the production delete hook for a target contract it owns. The delete path appends the target address to `vmOutput.DeletedAccounts`, the output context merges `DeletedAccounts` into the caller output, and the smart contract processor later processes the VM output by deleting accounts listed in that field.The root cause is that read-only mode is applied as runtime state, but not enforced by the state-changing delete and upgrade host-core paths. This breaks the expected isolation boundary for workflows that rely on read-only calls to inspect another contract without allowing that callee to produce state-changing VM output.Location[baseOps.go, ExecuteReadOnlyWithTypedArguments(), line 2097](https://github.com/klever-io/klever-go/blob/405d01b0abbf0d3e73b4a990bd7394a01f200dc2/kvm/vmhost/vmhooks/baseOps.go#L2097)[baseOps.go, ExecuteReadOnlyWithTypedArguments(), line 2099](https://github.com/klever-io/klever-go/blob/405d01b0abbf0d3e73b4a990bd7394a01f200dc2/kvm/vmhost/vmhooks/baseOps.go#L2099)[execution.go, doExecContractDelete(), line 237](https://github.com/klever-io/klever-go/blob/405d01b0abbf0d3e73b4a990bd7394a01f200dc2/kvm/vmhost/hostCore/execution.go#L237)[execution.go, doExecContractDelete(), line 246](https://github.com/klever-io/klever-go/blob/405d01b0abbf0d3e73b4a990bd7394a01f200dc2/kvm/vmhost/hostCore/execution.go#L246)[execution.go, executeUpgrade(), line 792](https://github.com/klever-io/klever-go/blob/405d01b0abbf0d3e73b4a990bd7394a01f200dc2/kvm/vmhost/hostCore/execution.go#L792)[execution.go, executeUpgrade(), line 831](https://github.com/klever-io/klever-go/blob/405d01b0abbf0d3e73b4a990bd7394a01f200dc2/kvm/vmhost/hostCore/execution.go#L831)[execution.go, executeDelete(), line 839](https://github.com/klever-io/klever-go/blob/405d01b0abbf0d3e73b4a990bd7394a01f200dc2/kvm/vmhost/hostCore/execution.go#L839)[execution.go, executeDelete(), line 849](https://github.com/klever-io/klever-go/blob/405d01b0abbf0d3e73b4a990bd7394a01f200dc2/kvm/vmhost/hostCore/execution.go#L849)[output.go, PopMergeActiveState(), line 103](https://github.com/klever-io/klever-go/blob/405d01b0abbf0d3e73b4a990bd7394a01f200dc2/kvm/vmhost/contexts/output.go#L103)[output.go, mergeVMOutputs(), line 615](https://github.com/klever-io/klever-go/blob/405d01b0abbf0d3e73b4a990bd7394a01f200dc2/kvm/vmhost/contexts/output.go#L615)[process.go, processVMOutput(), line 755](https://github.com/klever-io/klever-go/blob/405d01b0abbf0d3e73b4a990bd7394a01f200dc2/core/process/smartContract/process.go#L755)[process.go, processVMOutput(), line 765](https://github.com/klever-io/klever-go/blob/405d01b0abbf0d3e73b4a990bd7394a01f200dc2/core/process/smartContract/process.go#L765)PreconditionsA contract workflow invokes a callee through KVM read-only execution.The read-only callee owns, or otherwise satisfies the upgrade/delete permission checks for, the target contract.The target contract is upgradeable/deletable according to its KVM code metadata.No node operator privilege, validator role, oracle condition, or block-level timing condition is required.ImpactSuccessful exploitation violates KVM read-only isolation and allows state-changing delete side effects to be produced from a read-only nested execution. The PoC demonstrates that `DeletedAccounts` changes from zero entries before execution to one target entry after execution. Practical impact depends on contract workflows that trust read-only calls as non-mutating. In such workflows, an attacker-controlled or untrusted callee could hide delete or upgrade effects behind a read-only call. The delete effect is reversible only through redeployment or state recovery procedures available to the protocol or contract owner.Exploit CostThe cost is normal KVM smart contract execution gas. No flash loan, collateral, oracle manipulation, or external capital requirement is needed. The attacker must satisfy the contract-level preconditions above.Steps to ReproducePlace `poc_kvm_readonly_delete_side_effect_test.go` in an empty directory.Run the dependency commands listed in the PoC header.Run `GOTOOLCHAIN=go1.25.9 go test -v poc_kvm_readonly_delete_side_effect_test.go`.Observe that the parent contract invokes a child contract through `ExecuteReadOnlyWithTypedArguments`.Observe that the child contract uses the production managed delete hook against a target contract it owns.Observe that the final VM output contains the target address in `DeletedAccounts` despite the delete action being triggered through read-only execution.Proof-of-Concept ResultRunning `GOTOOLCHAIN=go1.25.9 go test -v poc_kvm_readonly_delete_side_effect_test.go` after dependency setup produces the following output. The result confirms that read-only execution commits a delete side effect into VM output.Suggested FixEnforce read-only mode in every state-changing KVM host path. At minimum, reject contract delete and contract upgrade execution when `runtime.ReadOnly()` is true. The same invariant should be regression-tested for delete, upgrade, storage writes, value transfers, and any VM output field that can later mutate chain state.Proof-of-Concept Sourcepoc_kvm_readonly_delete_side_effect_test.go
CVSS v3.1: 6.3