| name | external-precondition-audit |
| description | Trigger Pattern Any external module interaction detected in attack_surface.md - Inject Into Breadth agents (merged via M5 hierarchy) |
EXTERNAL_PRECONDITION_AUDIT Skill
Trigger Pattern: Any external module interaction detected in attack_surface.md
Inject Into: Breadth agents (merged via M5 hierarchy)
Constraint: Interface-level inference only -- no production fetch required
For every external module the protocol interacts with:
1. Interface-Level Requirement Inference
From the use imports and function calls to external modules, infer what the external module requires:
| External Function Called | Module::Function | Parameters Passed | Likely Preconditions (from signature + abort codes) | Our Protocol Validates? |
|---|
Inference method: Read the function signature, type parameters, ability constraints, and abort conditions. Example: coin::withdraw<CoinType>(account: &signer, amount: u64) -> infer that account must have sufficient balance, CoinType must be initialized, amount must be > 0. Check abort codes in framework source if available.
Aptos-specific patterns:
&signer parameters: does external module require the signer to own a specific resource?
- Generic type parameters
<T>: does external module require T to be registered/initialized?
Object<T> parameters: does external module validate object ownership or type?
- Abort conditions: enumerate all
assert! / abort in external function that could revert our call
2. Return Value Consumption
| External Call | Return Type | How Protocol Uses Return | Failure Mode if Return Unexpected |
|---|
For each return value:
- What happens if it returns 0? What happens if it returns
MAX_U64?
- What happens if the external call aborts?
- For
Option<T> returns: does our protocol handle none correctly?
- For
FungibleAsset returns: is metadata validated after receiving?
- For
Object<T> returns: is the object type verified before use?
- For each external data structure received (Vec, array, Map, list): (a) What ordering/uniqueness does the consuming code assume? (b) Does the external contract's spec guarantee that ordering? (c) What happens if the assumption is violated (unsorted, duplicates, gaps)?
3. State Dependency Mapping
| Protocol State | Depends on External State | External Module Upgradeable? | State Can Change Without Our Knowledge? |
|---|
For each dependency:
- Upgrade risk: Aptos modules are upgradeable by default (
compatible policy). Can the external module add new abort conditions to a function we call? Can it change return value semantics within compatible upgrade bounds?
- Immutability check: Is the external module published as
immutable? If so, behavior is frozen.
- State mutation timing: Can external module state change between our module's read and use within the same transaction? (e.g., another instruction in a multi-instruction transaction modifies external state)
- Framework dependency: If depending on
aptos_framework modules, are there governance-controlled parameters that could change? (e.g., transaction_fee, staking_config)
Instantiation Parameters
{CONTRACTS} -- List of modules to analyze
{EXTERNAL_MODULES} -- External modules identified during recon
{FRAMEWORK_DEPS} -- aptos_framework / aptos_std / aptos_token dependencies
Output Schema
For each finding:
## Finding [EP-N]: Title
**Verdict**: CONFIRMED / PARTIAL / REFUTED / CONTESTED
**Step Execution**: S1,S2,S3 | X(reasons) | ?(uncertain)
**Rules Applied**: [R1:Y, R4:Y, R8:Y]
**Severity**: Critical/High/Medium/Low/Info
**Location**: module::function (source_file.move:LineN)
**External Dependency**: {module::function}
**Failure Mode**: {what breaks}
**Description**: What's wrong
**Impact**: What can happen (abort DoS, wrong state, fund loss)
**Evidence**: Code showing dependency and missing validation
Step Execution Checklist
| Section | Required | Completed? |
|---|
| 1. Interface-Level Requirement Inference | YES | Y/N/? |
| 2. Return Value Consumption | YES | Y/N/? |
| 3. State Dependency Mapping | YES | Y/N/? |