◼️Security & Auditing Guidelines

Building on ZONA means having access to powerful tools from fast EVM execution to modular SDK-level control. However, with great power comes great responsibility: security must be a top priority in every deployment.

This section outlines best practices, audit preparation tips, and key threat vectors to watch out for when developing on ZONA Protocol.

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✅ General Best Practices

1. Use Battle-Tested Libraries

• Prefer audited libraries like OpenZeppelin for ERC standards, access control, math, and token logic.

• For SDK modules, reuse ZONA/ZONA standard patterns where possible.

2. Follow the Principle of Least Privilege

• Restrict access to sensitive functions using onlyOwner, onlyRole, or validator checks.

• Avoid unnecessary public or external modifiers on internal logic.

3. Limit delegatecall and call Usage

• Avoid low-level calls unless absolutely required these are common vectors for reentrancy and external dependency exploits.

4. Ensure Upgrade Safety

• If using proxies or upgradable contracts, implement transparent proxy patterns.

• Lock admin functions or upgradeability once live on mainnet.

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🔍 Smart Contract Audit Checklist

Before deploying to ZONA Testnet or Mainnet, ensure the following:

• ✅ All critical logic is unit tested

• ✅ All contracts pass static analysis (e.g., Slither, MythX)

• ✅ No hardcoded addresses or insecure randomness

• ✅ Ownership, pausing, minting, and withdraw logic are clearly scoped

• ✅ Gas usage is efficient (especially for high-frequency functions)

• ✅ Events are emitted for all important state changes

• ✅ Fallbacks and reentrancy guards are handled correctly

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🔐 Common Vulnerabilities to Avoid

Issue	Risk Example	Prevention
Reentrancy	Token drains via recursive fallback	Use nonReentrant modifier
Access Control Flaws	Unrestricted admin/mint/transfer functions	Use Ownable / AccessControl
Integer Overflows	Incorrect token math	Use Solidity ^0.8.x versions
Gas Griefing	Unbounded loops in user-facing calls	Limit iteration or cache state
Timestamp Dependency	Time manipulation via block.timestamp	Use block height instead where possible

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🛡️ SDK Module Security (Advanced)

If building native modules using ZONA SDK:

• Validate all message inputs in MsgServer

• Always define ValidateBasic() for message types

• Use parameter stores (ParamStore) for upgradable config

• Protect cross-module communication (e.g., between bank, staking, evm)

• Implement tests for every transaction and handler path

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📄 Recommended Tools

• Static Analysis: Slither, MythX, Securify

• Test Coverage: Hardhat Coverage Plugin

• Formal Verification: Certora (for large-scale protocols)

• Audit Partners: Contact certified firms for full ZONA/EVM support audits

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📝 Audit Readiness

When preparing for a third-party audit:

• Freeze all core logic before the audit begins

• Provide complete test coverage and deployment scripts

• Include full documentation and assumptions for your system

• Disclose prior vulnerabilities or known limitations

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🚨 Security is not a one-time effort it’s a continuous process. Audit early. Test often. Launch safely.