Smart Contract Vulnerability Detection Using Formalized Specifications

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for detecting vulnerabilities in smart contracts are of low precision and inefficient, with limited detection ability and high reliance on manual checks.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a virtual machine server that obtains formalized deployment information of a smart contract, executes initialization and behavior functions, and uses a formalized specification library to detect vulnerabilities, enabling high-precision detection of both known and unknown vulnerabilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional vulnerability detection methods are used for smart contracts, then the detection process is simple, but the detection precision and efficiency are low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection precisionVSAvoiddetection system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a formalized specification library as an intermediary between the smart contract code and the detection process. This library contains standardized security requirements and best practices that automatically guide the detection algorithm, enabling high-precision vulnerability identification without requiring complex manual analysis or overly complicated detection systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The detection system is segmented into distinct modules: a formalized specification library module, an execution result analysis module, and a vulnerability identification module. This segmentation allows each component to focus on specific tasks, improving overall detection precision while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If manual vulnerability checks are performed on smart contracts, then the detection ability is limited, but the system complexity remains low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection efficiencyVSAvoiddetection system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The detection system performs self-service by automatically executing smart contract code, analyzing execution results, and identifying vulnerabilities without requiring continuous manual intervention. The formalized specification library enables the system to autonomously evaluate contracts against security standards, dramatically improving detection efficiency while the automated processes manage complexity internally

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes key parameters from manual inspection to automated formalized verification. By transforming the detection process into parameter-based automated analysis using the formalized specification library, the system achieves high productivity through efficient algorithmic evaluation while the structured parameter framework manages complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If formalized verification is used to detect vulnerabilities, then detection precision improves, but the detection process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection precisionVSAvoiddetection difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The formalized specification library is prepared in advance, containing all necessary security requirements, best practices, and evaluation criteria. This preliminary action allows the actual vulnerability detection to proceed systematically by simply comparing contract execution results against the pre-established formalized specifications, achieving high precision without increasing detection difficulty during the actual scanning process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The formalized specification library acts as an intermediary that translates complex security requirements into structured, machine-readable evaluation criteria. This intermediary layer simplifies the detection process by providing clear, standardized rules for vulnerability identification, maintaining high detection precision while reducing the actual detection difficulty through systematic evaluation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20250378174A1Intelligent contract vulnerability detection method and apparatus, and device
Publication Date: 2025.12.11 THE PEOPLES BANK OF CHINA DIGITAL CURRENCY INST
  • US20250378174A1 patent drawing
  • US20250378174A1 patent drawing
  • US20250378174A1 patent drawing

AI summary

An intelligent contract vulnerability detection method, which comprises: obtaining formalized deployment information of the intelligent contract, wherein the formalized deployment information comprises a formalized initial state and a formalized behavior list, and the formalized behavior list comprises an initialization execution function and a behavior function of the intelligent contract; executing an initialization execution function and a behavior function in the formalized behavior list on the basis of the formalized initial state to obtain an execution result of the intelligent contract; and evaluating the execution result of the intelligent contract according to a formalized specification library of the intelligent contract to obtain a vulnerability detection result, wherein the formalized specification library comprises formalized specifications of the intelligent contract. The present method relates to the technical field of block chains, and can improve the detection precision of vulnerability detection for smart contracts.