Malicious Smart Contract

Definition ∞ A Malicious Smart Contract is a self-executing agreement on a blockchain that contains intentionally harmful code or vulnerabilities exploitable by an attacker. These contracts may be designed to steal funds, lock assets, or perform unauthorized operations once deployed. Users interact with them, often unknowingly, granting permissions that are then abused. Such contracts represent a significant security hazard within decentralized ecosystems.
Context ∞ Reports of malicious smart contracts frequently appear in crypto news, detailing hacks, rug pulls, and other financial crimes in the decentralized finance space. These incidents often lead to calls for more rigorous smart contract auditing, formal verification, and user due diligence. Security firms and blockchain analytics companies continuously monitor for and report on these dangerous contracts. The ongoing challenge is to prevent the deployment and interaction with such deceptive code.