Do inter‑protocol dependencies (e.g. on MEV layers) exacerbate slash contagion? Yes, inter-protocol dependencies are a major vector for slash contagion. Consider an AVS whose validators rely on a specific MEV-Boost relay for block building. If that relay is malicious or buggy, it could provide a block that causes the validators to violate a slashing condition. This would mean a failure in the MEV ecosystem directly causes slashing in the AVS ecosystem. Similarly, dependencies on specific cross-chain bridges or oracle networks create these "failure bridges." An exploit in one protocol can leapfrog into another, completely unrelated protocol through these shared operational dependencies, creating a contagion chain that is difficult to predict or hedge against, as the risks are embedded in the infrastructure layer.
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Could oracles deliberately manipulate validator inputs to cause slashes? Yes, this is a critical and often underestimated attack vector. A malicious or compromised oracle that feeds data to an AVS could deliberately provide false information designed to trigger a slashing condition. For example, an oracle for a cross-chain bridge AVS could feed invalid block headers, causing honest validators to sign incorrect states and be slashed for equivocation. The defense against this is oracle diversification—requiring consensus from multiple, independent oracle networks before acting on any critical piece of external data. Relying on a single oracle creates a centralized point of failure that can be exploited to attack the validator set.
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Do inter-protocol dependencies (e.g. on MEV layers) exacerbate slash contagion? Yes, inter-protocol dependencies—especially on shared infrastructure like MEV relays, sequencing layers, or bridges—can introduce correlated failure points that exacerbate slash contagion. For example, a misconfigured MEV relay might delay blocks, causing validator downtime across multiple AVSs. Bridges or shared DA layers may propagate errors or manipulated states, leading to chain-wide validator misbehavior. These dependencies create “hidden coupling” between AVSs and other systems. Robust AVS design includes dependency isolation, fail-safes, and cross-protocol slashing awareness. As modularity grows, dependency mapping and joint fault modeling will be essential to prevent systemic slashing risks.
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