ZetaChain Halts Cross-Chain Transactions Following GatewayEVM Contract Attack

ZetaChain, an interoperability-focused Layer 1 network, has paused cross-chain transactions on its mainnet after a recent attack targeted the GatewayEVM contract.

The GatewayEVM contract serves as the entry point for cross-chain actions between networks, making it a critical component of ZetaChain's architecture. However, the contract was found to have a vulnerability in its call function, which allowed malicious actors to trigger cross-chain calls without proper access controls or input checks.

According to blockchain security firm SlowMist, the attack exploited this weakness, enabling attackers to drain funds from target chains. ZetaChain has confirmed that only internal wallets were affected, but the incident highlights the importance of robust contract design and testing in preventing similar attacks.