Decentralization is a core principle of Web3, yet most crypto projects rely on centralized infrastructure components that create significant security vulnerabilities. Understanding your complete attack surface requires mapping both decentralized and centralized elements of your architecture.
Explore our full guide: Domain & DNS Security for Crypto, DeFi and Web3 Platforms
—
The Decentralization Paradox
Most crypto projects operate in a hybrid reality:
- Smart contracts and blockchain transactions are decentralized
- User interfaces, domains, DNS, and access points remain centralized
This creates a paradox where projects claim decentralization while maintaining critical centralized dependencies. These centralized components often become the primary attack vectors for sophisticated threat actors.
Mapping Your Complete Attack Surface
1. Domain Infrastructure
Your domain name represents a centralized point of control with multiple attack vectors:
Registrar-level risks:
- Account takeover through credential theft
- Social engineering of registrar support
- SIM swapping to bypass SMS-based authentication
- Inadequate access controls
Registry-level risks:
- Lack of registry locks enabling unauthorized transfers
- Nameserver delegation changes
- Domain slamming (unauthorized transfers)
Mitigation strategies:
- Implement registry locks for critical domains
- Use hardware-based authentication for registrar access
- Deploy specialized monitoring for domain changes
- Select crypto-friendly registrars with enhanced security
2. DNS Infrastructure
DNS translates human-readable domains to machine-readable addresses, creating another centralized dependency.
Common vulnerabilities:
- DNS cache poisoning
- Nameserver compromise
- DNS spoofing
- Inadequate DNSSEC implementation
Mitigation strategies:
- Properly implement and maintain DNSSEC
- Deploy redundant DNS providers
- Implement nameserver monitoring
- Create DNS change management protocols
3. Frontend Applications
User interfaces represent a critical trust boundary between users and the blockchain.
Attack vectors:
- Code injection in frontend applications
- Supply chain attacks on dependencies
- Compromised deployment pipelines
- Man-in-the-middle attacks
Mitigation strategies:
- Implement Subresource Integrity (SRI)
- Deploy Content Security Policy (CSP)
- Use immutable deployments
- Implement frontend-to-contract verification
4. API Services
Many crypto applications rely on centralized APIs for data and functionality.
Vulnerabilities:
- API endpoint manipulation
- Data tampering
- Rate limiting bypass
- Authentication weaknesses
Mitigation strategies:
- Implement robust API authentication
- Deploy rate limiting and monitoring
- Use signed API responses
- Implement API versioning and deprecation policies
5. Team Access and Governance
Human access represents a significant centralized risk.
Risk factors:
- Privileged account compromise
- Insider threats
- Social engineering
- Inadequate access controls
Mitigation strategies:
- Implement role-based access control
- Require multi-signature for critical changes
- Deploy privileged access management
- Conduct regular access reviews
Risk Assessment Framework
To effectively evaluate your centralized risk exposure, apply this framework:
- Identify all centralized components in your architecture
- Assess the impact of compromise for each component
- Evaluate current controls against industry best practices
- Prioritize remediation based on risk and impact
- Implement monitoring for early detection of compromise
Practical Risk Assessment Example
Consider this simplified risk assessment for a typical DeFi platform:
Building Defense in Depth
True security requires defense in depth across all centralized components:
- Preventive Controls: Registry locks, DNSSEC, hardware MFA
- Detective Controls: Monitoring, alerting, anomaly detection
- Responsive Controls: Incident response plans, backup systems
- Recovery Controls: Disaster recovery, business continuity
Conclusion
While blockchain technology provides unprecedented security for transactions, the centralized components that connect users to your platform create significant vulnerabilities. By mapping your complete attack surface and implementing appropriate controls, you can build a comprehensive security posture that protects both decentralized and centralized elements of your architecture.
The most secure crypto projects acknowledge and address these centralized dependencies rather than ignoring them. Start by securing your domain and DNS infrastructure, as these represent the most critical and frequently exploited centralized components.
Apply for a Domainsure Invite
Get a Free Domain Health Check
Due to high demand: allow up to 24 hours for report delivery.
