token-flow-tracing

name	token-flow-tracing
description	Performs comprehensive token flow analysis by tracing all token entry and exit paths, verifying accounting consistency, detecting unsolicited transfer vectors, and identifying risks such as donation attacks, balance desynchronization, token type confusion, and side-effect-driven state changes.

TOKEN_FLOW_TRACING Skill

Trigger Pattern: transfer\|transferFrom\|safeTransfer\|mint\|burn\|balanceOf.*this Inject Into: Lifecycle, External-Env agents

For every token the protocol handles:

1. Token Entry Points

Where can tokens enter?

• deposit() / stake() functions - standard entry points
• Unsolicited transfers - direct transfer() to contract address (bypasses deposit logic)
• Callback receipts - onERC721Received, onERC1155Received, onERC1155BatchReceived
• receive() / fallback() for native ETH
• Side-effect receipts - tokens sent as part of external call (e.g., unstake returns tokens)

For each callback handler the protocol IMPLEMENTS (not calls): verify access control (can anyone trigger it?), verify what state it modifies and whether that state is iterated elsewhere.

2. Token State Tracking

For each entry point:

• What state variable tracks the balance?
• Is balanceOf(address(this)) used directly? → Donation attack vector
• Are tracked balances vs actual balances compared anywhere?
• Can tracked balance get out of sync with actual balance?

Red flags:

• Exchange rate calculations using balanceOf(address(this)) directly
• No "skim" or "sync" function to reconcile discrepancies
• Accounting variables updated BEFORE token transfer completes

3. Token Exit Points

Where can tokens leave?

• withdraw() / unstake() functions
• Fee distributions to treasury/stakers
• Reward claims
• Emergency withdrawals / rescue functions
• Liquidation transfers

For each exit: does the tracked balance decrease BEFORE or AFTER the actual transfer? For each transfer call: can the source address be underfunded at execution time? (funds deployed externally, locked, or lent out → transfer reverts)

3b. Self-Transfer Accounting

For each transfer function: can the sender and recipient be the same address? If YES: does a self-transfer update accounting state (fees credited, rewards claimed, snapshots updated, share ratios changed) without net token movement? Flag as FINDING.

4. Token Type Separation (Multi-Token Protocols)

For protocols handling multiple token types:

• Are different token types handled by different code paths?
• Can one token type's code path be triggered with another type?
• Are approvals/allowances type-specific or shared?
• Does the protocol distinguish between:
  • Native vs wrapped (e.g., ETH vs WETH)
  • Legacy vs upgraded tokens (e.g., token migrations)
  • Base vs receipt tokens (e.g., underlying vs yield-bearing)
  • Staking receipt tokens (e.g., validator shares, LP tokens, delegation receipts)

Check: If function A handles TokenX and function B handles TokenY, can TokenX reach function B's logic? Also: within a single function, if some code paths branch on token type (e.g., input handling), do ALL code paths branch consistently (e.g., refund, fee, return)?

4a. Native / ETH-sentinel vs ERC-20 path divergence (MANDATORY when any swap/approve/transfer handles a native or sentinel token)

A single token variable that may be either an ERC-20 address OR a native/sentinel pseudo-address (address(0), 0xEeee...EEeE, a wrapped-native address) is a recurring source of reverts and silent no-ops. For EACH approve(), transferFrom(), safeTransfer(), .call{value:} on a token that CAN be native/ sentinel, trace BOTH branches:

• Typed ERC-20 call on a native/sentinel address (IERC20(token).approve(...), transferFrom) → reverts (no ERC-20 code at that address) → breaks the native swap/transfer path entirely. Is the native case branched BEFORE the typed call?
• Low-level .call/safeTransfer to the sentinel → may silently succeed/no-op (no code to revert), so value is lost without an error. Is success actually verified?
• Unconditional approve(fromToken, ...) before a swap, where fromToken may be native/sentinel → the unconditional approve reverts the whole operation.

Check: list every token op on a possibly-native/sentinel token; for each, state whether the native branch is handled separately. A typed ERC-20 op on a native/sentinel address that is NOT branched is a confirmed finding (path broken / value lost), independent of severity.

Cross-ref (cross-chain bridge/gateway callbacks): this §4a covers the native/sentinel-vs-ERC20 token op. A separate asset-FORM mismatch (the bridge delivers/expects an asset that may be in a different form (native vs wrapped) — e.g. ETH/WETH — verify the conversion is present) is checked in INTEGRATION_HAZARD_RESEARCH §0c-bis. Apply both for any cross-chain bridge/gateway callback handler: a token op can be type-correct yet still revert/trap funds because the delivered form was never reconciled.

SIBLING ASYMMETRY (promote, do not bury): if one function guards the native/sentinel (or any edge) case — e.g. if (token != _ETH_ADDRESS_) approve(...) — and a paired/sibling function performing the same operation does NOT, that asymmetry is itself a confirmed finding (the unguarded sibling reverts / mis-handles the edge). You MUST write it as its own ## Finding using the Finding Template below — recording it only as a ✓ or a note in the Step Execution Checklist is a recall loss: the checklist row attests you ran the check, but the report is built from ## Finding sections, so a bug that lives only in a checklist cell is silently dropped at inventory promotion. One sibling guards and the other does not ⇒ emit a finding, every time.

5. Unsolicited Transfer Analysis

Can tokens be sent to the contract without calling deposit()?

If YES:

• Does this break accounting? (tracked balance != actual balance)
• Does this inflate exchange rates? (more assets per share)
• Does this enable first-depositor attack amplification?
• Are there "skim" or "sync" functions to reconcile?
• Can an attacker front-run deposits with unsolicited transfers?

If NO:

• Why not? (rebasing token? transfer hook? access control?)
• Is the protection reliable? (can it be bypassed?)

5b. Unsolicited Transfer Matrix (All Token Types)

For EVERY external token type the protocol holds, queries, or receives as side effects - not just the protocol's primary token:

Token Type	Can Transfer To Protocol?	Changes Protocol Accounting?	Blocks Operations?	Triggers Side Effects?
{token_a}	YES/NO	YES/NO	YES/NO	YES/NO

RULE: If ANY token type is transferable to the protocol AND affects state → analyze each consequence:

• Accounting impact: Does tracked vs actual balance diverge?
• Iteration impact: Does the protocol iterate over sources of this token? (gas DoS vector)
• Operation blocking: Does non-zero balance of this token prevent admin operations?
• Side effect chain: Does receiving this token trigger further side effects (reward claims, state changes)?

6. Token Flow Checklist

For each token identified:

Token	Entry Points	Exit Points	Tracking Var	balanceOf(this) Used?	Unsolicited Possible?
[Name]	deposit, receive	withdraw, claim	totalDeposited	YES/NO	YES/NO

7. Cross-Token Interactions

For protocols with multiple tokens:

• Can operations on TokenA affect TokenB's accounting?
• Are there exchange rate dependencies between tokens?
• Can withdrawing TokenA affect availability of TokenB?

8. External Call Return Type Verification

For every external call that returns tokens or values:

8a. Return Type Mismatch Check

• What token type does the protocol EXPECT to receive?
• What token type does the external contract ACTUALLY return?
• Are these the same token, or different representations?

Common mismatches:

• Legacy vs upgraded tokens (e.g., TokenV1 vs TokenV2 after migration)
• Native vs wrapped (e.g., ETH vs WETH)
• Bridged vs canonical (e.g., bridged USDC vs native USDC)
• Different decimal precision tokens

Check: interface.function() returns (TokenA) - verify TokenA is what's actually returned, not TokenB

8b. Return Value Validation

• Does the protocol validate return values before use?
• Can zero/max/unexpected returns cause issues?
• Is there a mismatch between documented and actual returns?

9. Transfer Side Effects Analysis

For every transfer() / transferFrom() call to external contracts:

9a. On-Transfer Behavior

• Does the token have transfer hooks? (ERC777, ERC1363)
• Does transfer trigger reward claims or state changes?
• Can transfer revert under certain conditions?

9b. Side Effect Inventory

Token	On Transfer Side Effect	Impact on Protocol
[Token]	Claims pending rewards	Unexpected balance increase
[Token]	Updates delegation state	Accounting mismatch
[Token]	Triggers rebase	Exchange rate affected

9c. Specific Checks for Staking Receipts

• Does transferring staking receipts claim rewards automatically?
• Does transfer change the token's internal delegation accounting?
• Can side effects be exploited to inflate/deflate balances?

Example: Transferring staking receipt tokens (e.g., stETH, aTokens) may trigger rebases or reward claims as a side effect

9d. Side Effect Token Type Analysis

For each documented side effect that produces or claims tokens:

External Call / Event	Side Effect	Token Type Produced	Protocol Handles This Type?	Mismatch?
{call_or_event}	{side_effect}	{token_type_or_UNKNOWN}	YES/NO	YES/NO

RULE: If side effect token type != protocol's expected token type → FINDING (stranded tokens of wrong type) RULE: If side effect token type is UNKNOWN → CONTESTED (assume adversarial per Rule 4) RULE: Check BOTH direct calls AND unsolicited transfers for side effect token types

Example Application

// RED FLAG: Direct balance usage
uint256 rate = token.balanceOf(address(this)) / totalShares;

// BETTER: Tracked balance
uint256 rate = totalPooledTokens / totalShares;

// But check: is totalPooledTokens updated correctly on ALL entry paths?

Finding Template

When this skill identifies an issue:

**ID**: [LC-N] or [EX-N]
**Severity**: [based on fund impact]
**Step Execution**: ✓1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 | ✗(reasons) | ?(uncertain)
**Location**: Contract.sol:LineN
**Title**: [Token type] can enter/exit via [path] without [expected accounting update]
**Description**: [Trace the token flow and where it diverges from expected]
**Impact**: [What breaks: exchange rates, user balances, protocol insolvency]

---

Step Execution Checklist (MANDATORY)

CRITICAL: You MUST report completion status for ALL sections. Findings with incomplete sections will be flagged for depth review.

Section	Required	Completed?	Notes
1. Token Entry Points	YES	✓/✗/?
2. Token State Tracking	YES	✓/✗/?
3. Token Exit Points	YES	✓/✗/?
4. Token Type Separation	IF multi-token	✓/✗(N/A)/?
4a. Native/ETH-sentinel vs ERC-20 path	IF any native/sentinel token	✓/✗(N/A)/?	typed ERC-20 op on native/sentinel reverts; low-level no-ops; sibling-asymmetry (one guards, sibling does not) ⇒ MUST also be a ## Finding, not only this row
5. Unsolicited Transfer Analysis	YES	✓/✗/?
5b. Unsolicited Transfer Matrix (All Types)	YES	✓/✗/?	MANDATORY - never skip
6. Token Flow Checklist	YES	✓/✗/?
7. Cross-Token Interactions	IF multi-token	✓/✗(N/A)/?
8. External Call Return Type	YES	✓/✗/?	MANDATORY - never skip
9. Transfer Side Effects	YES	✓/✗/?	MANDATORY - never skip
9d. Side Effect Token Type	YES	✓/✗/?	MANDATORY - never skip

Cross-Reference Markers

After Section 5 (Unsolicited Transfer Analysis):

• IF staking receipts identified → MUST complete Sections 8-9
• IF external calls return tokens → MUST verify return type in Section 8

After Section 8 (External Call Return Type):

• Cross-reference with STAKING_RECEIPT_TOKENS.md Section 8 for on-transfer side effects
• IF return type UNKNOWN in production → mark finding as CONTESTED

After Section 9 (Transfer Side Effects):

• IF side effects UNKNOWN → assume YES (adversarial default per Rule 5)
• MUST document: "Assumed adversarial: [effect]. Impact if true: [trace]"

Mandatory Forced Output

For Sections 8 and 9, you MUST produce output even if uncertain:

Section 8 Output (always required):

### 8. External Call Return Type Verification
| External Call | Expected Return | Verified Production Return | Match? |
|--------------|-----------------|---------------------------|--------|
| [call] | [expected] | [verified/UNVERIFIED] | ✓/✗/? |

**If UNVERIFIED**: Finding verdict cannot be REFUTED. Use CONTESTED.

Section 9 Output (always required):

### 9. Transfer Side Effects Analysis
| Token | On Transfer Side Effect | Verified? | Assumed Impact |
|-------|------------------------|-----------|----------------|
| [token] | [effect or UNKNOWN] | YES/NO | [impact trace] |

**Adversarial Default Applied**: [list assumptions made]