[Security Disclosure] SDM Verify Path Accepts Forged Refunds Without Recomputation — Pre-Lagoon Critical

Summary

I am disclosing a vulnerability in the SDM/PostExec system
(alloy-op-evm) that allows a malicious sequencer to forge gas
refund values accepted by every verifier without recomputation.
The fault-proof system (kona) shares the same blind spot and
cannot dispute the resulting forged state root.

Current status: Not exploitable. Lagoon has not activated
on any production chain.
Risk if unpatched at activation: 17,280 ETH/day damage
ceiling at stress scenario parameters.

The Defect

verifier_post_exec_refund_for_tx applies only a size cap:

if refund > evm_gas_used { return Err(…) }
Ok(refund) // no recomputation

A malicious sequencer sets refund = evm_gas_used for every
transaction. Every verifier accepts it. The forged value writes
to canonical state_root via post_exec_settlement_deltas.

Proof of Concept

Runs on stock code. No modifications required.

cargo test → VERIFY-NO-RECOMPUTE | accepted=21000 legit=0

Disclosure History

  • 7 reports submitted to Immunefi
  • $400 in submission fees paid
  • Triage confirmed: “yes — technically accurate” — then closed
  • Finding forwarded to engineering as “informational hardening note”
  • Not paid

Request

  1. Confirm whether the recomputation check will be added to
    verifier_post_exec_refund_for_tx before Lagoon activates
  2. Reopen Immunefi Report #83996 and evaluate under the June
    2025 bounty extension covering pre-production upgrades

References

Full disclosure:

PoC repository:

— Yomibito Shirazu / Yohei Ishijima