The Ethereum Foundation has released the results of Pectra system contract audit covering Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) 2935, 7002, 7251. The audit was focused on evaluating potential attack vectors and ensuring that the contract logic accurately implements the required EIPs. According to the audit report, all relevant issues found in the review have been resolved.
The announcement follows challenges faced during Pectra’s deployment on Holesky testnet on February 24, 2025, where the network failed to finalize transactions.
Why Was This Audit Crucial?
The audit was prompted by a misconfiguration in deposit contract addresses, which disrupted hash verification and caused execution clients like Geth to stall. This incident highlighted the importance of intense pre-launch audits.
Pectra introduces major changes to Ethereum’s architecture, inclduing enhanced validator staking limits (EIP-7251), improved account abstraction (EIP-7002), and optimized block hash storage (EIP-2935). The complexity of these upgrades meant a minor flaw could have a widespread consequences, making it important to have extensive scrutiny.
Audit Findings and Resolutions
As per the report, the multi-phase audit involved firms like a16z (Halmos), Blackthorn (via Immunefi), Dedaub, Plainshift, and Sigma Prime. Key findings included a medium severity Denial-of-Service (DoS) vulnerability identified by Dedaub and two low-severity issues identified by Blackthorn.
According to the Ethereum Foundation, all relevant issues have been addressed. a16z conducted a formal verification using Halmos, ensuring the bytecode matched the EIP specifications.
Next Steps for Ethereum’s Pectra
Following the Holesky testnet setback, developers are preparing for further testing on the Sepolia testnet on March 5. A bug bounty competition is currently running on Cantina, with rewards of up to $2,000,000 for findings related to Pectra.
With this move, Ethereum is changing its approach to security. Before releasing new features to the public, the team will carry out all the necessary checks to make sure that everything is in its place and is safe and stable. This shows how serious Ethereum is about keeping its network secure as it grows and improves.
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