Avalanche-based Social Token Platform Stars Arena Suffers $2.9 Million Exploit
In a shocking turn of events, Stars Arena, an Avalanche-based social token platform, has fallen victim to a massive exploit resulting in the loss of approximately $2.9 million worth of funds locked in its smart contract. Security analysts from PeckShield have uncovered the details of this unfortunate incident, leaving the platform’s future in doubt.
There has been a major security breach with the smart contract.
We’re actively checking the issue.
DO NOT deposit any funds.
Stay tuned for updates.
— Stars Arena (@starsarenacom) October 7, 2023
Stars Arena, a decentralized application (dApp) that provides a platform for users to purchase tokens granting access to chat groups, was once hailed as an innovative and promising project within the decentralized finance (DeFi) space. However, recent events have cast a dark shadow over its reputation.
According to PeckShield’s security analysts, the exploit was primarily triggered by a critical reentrancy issue within Stars Arena’s smart contract. This vulnerability allowed malicious actors to manipulate the token economy, effectively selling tokens representing access to chat groups for prices far higher than their actual worth. In some cases, these tokens were sold for as much as $2,740 each, causing the platform’s smart contract to hemorrhage funds.
#PeckShieldAlert @starsarenacom has been hacked for ~$2.9M pic.twitter.com/VSw8k3AVEq
— PeckShieldAlert (@PeckShieldAlert) October 7, 2023
As a result of this devastating attack, the total value locked (TVL) in Stars Arena’s smart contract plummeted from its previous heights to a mere $0.47, as reported by DefiLlama. This massive loss has raised concerns about the platform’s ability to recover and reimburse affected users.
In response to the exploit, Stars Arena issued an urgent warning to its community on X, stating, “There has been a major security breach with the smart contract. We’re actively checking the issue. DO NOT deposit any funds.” While the development team is working tirelessly to rectify the situation, the damage has already been done, leaving users anxious about the fate of their investments.
One of the most distressing aspects of this incident is the impact on the platform’s users. While they can still withdraw tokens held in their wallets on the app, those who own tokens representing access to chat groups are now facing a harsh reality. These tokens, which were initially designed to grant access to chat rooms, are currently devoid of any significant value, rendering them essentially worthless in the wake of the exploit.
Stars Arena is a derivative of FriendTech, a well-known app allowing users to purchase tokens granting access to individual chat rooms. Typically, these tokens are priced on a bonding curve, where their value increases as more users buy them. This unique approach to social interaction within the blockchain space initially attracted a significant user base, but the recent exploit threatens to tarnish the reputation of the entire project.
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