Donation Attack

Definition ∞ A donation attack is a specific type of vulnerability exploit where an attacker manipulates a smart contract function designed for donations. This manipulation typically causes the contract to transfer funds to an unintended address or drain its reserves. Attackers often exploit logic flaws or reentrancy issues within the donation mechanism. The result is an unauthorized loss of assets from the contract.
Context ∞ Donation attacks are a significant concern in decentralized finance (DeFi) and blockchain projects that rely on community funding or public contribution mechanisms. News coverage frequently highlights these exploits, underscoring the importance of thorough smart contract auditing and secure coding practices. The ongoing discussion involves developing more resilient contract designs and robust security checks to prevent such financial losses.