Gas Optimizations - Githubissues

Table of Contents: G-01 ++i costs less gas than i++, especially when it's used in for loops
G-02 ++i/i++ should be unchecked{++i}/unchecked{i++} G-03 Use custom errors rather than revert()/require() strings to save deployment gas G-04 Comparison operators G-05 Use a more recent version of solidity G-06 += costs more gas than = + for state variables G-07 Usage of uints/ints smaller than 32 bytes (256 bits) incurs overhead G-08 calldata instead of memory for read-only function parameter G-09 .length should not be looked up in every loop of a for-loop G-10 internal functions only called once can be inlined to save gas G-11 Redundant zero initialization G-12 Empty blocks should be removed or emit something G-13 Not using the named return variables when a function returns, wastes deplyment gas

G-01 ++i costs less gas than i++, especially when it's used in for loops

Instances include: AxelarGateway.sol https://github.com/code-423n4/2022-07-axelar/blob/9c4c44b94cddbd48b9baae30051a4e13cbe39539/contracts/AxelarGateway.sol#L207

AxelarGasService.sol https://github.com/code-423n4/2022-07-axelar/blob/9c4c44b94cddbd48b9baae30051a4e13cbe39539/contracts/gas-service/AxelarGasService.sol#L123

G-02 ++i/i++ should be unchecked{++i}/unchecked{i++} when it is not possible for them to overflow, as is the case when used in for- and while-loops The unchecked keyword is new in solidity version 0.8.0, so this only applies to that version or higher, which these instances are. This saves 30-40 gas per loop: https://gist.github.com/hrkrshnn/ee8fabd532058307229d65dcd5836ddc#the-increment-in-for-loop-post-condition-can-be-made-unchecked

Instances include: AxelarGateway.sol https://github.com/code-423n4/2022-07-axelar/blob/9c4c44b94cddbd48b9baae30051a4e13cbe39539/contracts/AxelarGateway.sol#L207

AxelarGasService.sol https://github.com/code-423n4/2022-07-axelar/blob/9c4c44b94cddbd48b9baae30051a4e13cbe39539/contracts/gas-service/AxelarGasService.sol#L123

G-03 Use custom errors rather than revert()/require() strings to save deployment gas Custom errors from Solidity 0.8.4 are cheaper than require strings (cheaper deployment cost and runtime cost when the revert condition is met) while providing the same amount of information, as explained here https://blog.soliditylang.org/2021/04/21/custom-errors/ Custom errors are defined using the error statement, which can be used inside and outside of contracts (including interfaces and libraries).

Mitigation: Replace revert()/require() strings with custom errors

G-04 Comparison operators In the EVM, there is no opcode for >= or <=. When using greater than or equal, two operations are performed: > and =. Using strict comparison operators hence saves gas.

Instances include: AxelarAuthWeighted.sol https://github.com/code-423n4/2022-07-axelar/blob/9c4c44b94cddbd48b9baae30051a4e13cbe39539/contracts/auth/AxelarAuthWeighted.sol#L36 https://github.com/code-423n4/2022-07-axelar/blob/9c4c44b94cddbd48b9baae30051a4e13cbe39539/contracts/auth/AxelarAuthWeighted.sol#L107 https://github.com/code-423n4/2022-07-axelar/blob/9c4c44b94cddbd48b9baae30051a4e13cbe39539/contracts/auth/AxelarAuthWeighted.sol#L117

Mitigation: Replace <= with <, and >= with >. Do not forget to increment/decrement the compared variable

G-05 Use a more recent version of solidity Use a solidity version of at least 0.8.10 to have external calls skip contract existence checks if the external call has a return value Use a solidity version of at least 0.8.12 to get string.concat() instead of abi.encodePacked(,) Use a solidity version of at least 0.8.13 to get the ability to use using for with a list of free functions

Instances include: AxelarGateway.sol https://github.com/code-423n4/2022-07-axelar/blob/9c4c44b94cddbd48b9baae30051a4e13cbe39539/contracts/AxelarGateway.sol#L3

IDepositBase.sol https://github.com/code-423n4/2022-07-axelar/blob/9c4c44b94cddbd48b9baae30051a4e13cbe39539/contracts/interfaces/IDepositBase.sol#L3

AxelarGasService.sol https://github.com/code-423n4/2022-07-axelar/blob/9c4c44b94cddbd48b9baae30051a4e13cbe39539/contracts/gas-service/AxelarGasService.sol#L3

AxelarGasServiceProxy.sol https://github.com/code-423n4/2022-07-axelar/blob/9c4c44b94cddbd48b9baae30051a4e13cbe39539/contracts/gas-service/AxelarGasServiceProxy.sol#L3

IAxelarAuth.sol https://github.com/code-423n4/2022-07-axelar/blob/9c4c44b94cddbd48b9baae30051a4e13cbe39539/contracts/interfaces/IAxelarAuth.sol#L3

IAxelarGasService.sol https://github.com/code-423n4/2022-07-axelar/blob/9c4c44b94cddbd48b9baae30051a4e13cbe39539/contracts/interfaces/IAxelarGasService.sol#L3

IAxelarDepositService.sol https://github.com/code-423n4/2022-07-axelar/blob/9c4c44b94cddbd48b9baae30051a4e13cbe39539/contracts/interfaces/IAxelarDepositService.sol#L3

IAxelarAuthWeighted.sol https://github.com/code-423n4/2022-07-axelar/blob/9c4c44b94cddbd48b9baae30051a4e13cbe39539/contracts/interfaces/IAxelarAuthWeighted.sol#L3

DepositReceiver.sol https://github.com/code-423n4/2022-07-axelar/blob/9c4c44b94cddbd48b9baae30051a4e13cbe39539/contracts/deposit-service/DepositReceiver.sol#L3

AxelarDepositService.sol https://github.com/code-423n4/2022-07-axelar/blob/9c4c44b94cddbd48b9baae30051a4e13cbe39539/contracts/deposit-service/AxelarDepositService.sol#L3

DepositBase.sol https://github.com/code-423n4/2022-07-axelar/blob/9c4c44b94cddbd48b9baae30051a4e13cbe39539/contracts/deposit-service/DepositBase.sol#L3

ReceiverImplementation.sol https://github.com/code-423n4/2022-07-axelar/blob/9c4c44b94cddbd48b9baae30051a4e13cbe39539/contracts/deposit-service/ReceiverImplementation.sol#L3

AxelarDepositServiceProxy.sol https://github.com/code-423n4/2022-07-axelar/blob/9c4c44b94cddbd48b9baae30051a4e13cbe39539/contracts/deposit-service/AxelarDepositServiceProxy.sol#L3

AxelarAuthWeighted.sol https://github.com/code-423n4/2022-07-axelar/blob/9c4c44b94cddbd48b9baae30051a4e13cbe39539/contracts/auth/AxelarAuthWeighted.sol#L3

XC20Wrapper.sol https://github.com/code-423n4/2022-07-axelar/blob/9c4c44b94cddbd48b9baae30051a4e13cbe39539/xc20/contracts/XC20Wrapper.sol#L3

G-06 += costs more gas than = + for state variables (also -= vs = - )

G-07 Usage of uints/ints smaller than 32 bytes (256 bits) incurs overhead When using elements that are smaller than 32 bytes, your contract’s gas usage may be higher. This is because the EVM operates on 32 bytes at a time. Therefore, if the element is smaller than that, the EVM must use more operations in order to reduce the size of the element from 32 bytes to the desired size. https://docs.soliditylang.org/en/v0.8.11/internals/layout_in_storage.html Use a larger size then downcast where needed

Instances include: AxelarGateway.sol https://github.com/code-423n4/2022-07-axelar/blob/9c4c44b94cddbd48b9baae30051a4e13cbe39539/contracts/AxelarGateway.sol#L332

AxelarAuthWeighted.sol https://github.com/code-423n4/2022-07-axelar/blob/9c4c44b94cddbd48b9baae30051a4e13cbe39539/contracts/auth/AxelarAuthWeighted.sol#L14

G-08 calldata instead of memory for read-only function parameter If a reference type function parameter is read-only, it is cheaper in gas to use calldata instead of memory. Calldata is a non-modifiable, non-persistent area where function arguments are stored, and behaves mostly like memory. Try to use calldata as a data location because it will avoid copies and also makes sure that the data cannot be modified.

AxelarGasService.sol https://github.com/code-423n4/2022-07-axelar/blob/9c4c44b94cddbd48b9baae30051a4e13cbe39539/contracts/gas-service/AxelarGasService.sol#L40

AxelarDepositService.sol https://github.com/code-423n4/2022-07-axelar/blob/9c4c44b94cddbd48b9baae30051a4e13cbe39539/contracts/deposit-service/AxelarDepositService.sol#L220

AxelarAuthWeighted.sol https://github.com/code-423n4/2022-07-axelar/blob/9c4c44b94cddbd48b9baae30051a4e13cbe39539/contracts/auth/AxelarAuthWeighted.sol#L55

XC20Wrapper.sol https://github.com/code-423n4/2022-07-axelar/blob/9c4c44b94cddbd48b9baae30051a4e13cbe39539/xc20/contracts/XC20Wrapper.sol#L51 https://github.com/code-423n4/2022-07-axelar/blob/9c4c44b94cddbd48b9baae30051a4e13cbe39539/xc20/contracts/XC20Wrapper.sol#L52

Mitigation: Replace memory with calldata

G-09 .length should not be looked up in every loop of a for-loop The overheads outlined below are PER LOOP, excluding the first loop: storage arrays incur a Gwarmaccess (100 gas) memory arrays use MLOAD (3 gas) calldata arrays use CALLDATALOAD (3 gas) Caching the length changes each of these to a DUP (3 gas), and gets rid of the extra DUP needed to store the stack offset.

Instances include: AxelarGateway.sol https://github.com/code-423n4/2022-07-axelar/blob/9c4c44b94cddbd48b9baae30051a4e13cbe39539/contracts/AxelarGateway.sol#L207

AxelarGasService.sol https://github.com/code-423n4/2022-07-axelar/blob/9c4c44b94cddbd48b9baae30051a4e13cbe39539/contracts/gas-service/AxelarGasService.sol#L123

AxelarDepositService.sol https://github.com/code-423n4/2022-07-axelar/blob/9c4c44b94cddbd48b9baae30051a4e13cbe39539/contracts/deposit-service/AxelarDepositService.sol#L114 https://github.com/code-423n4/2022-07-axelar/blob/9c4c44b94cddbd48b9baae30051a4e13cbe39539/contracts/deposit-service/AxelarDepositService.sol#L168 https://github.com/code-423n4/2022-07-axelar/blob/9c4c44b94cddbd48b9baae30051a4e13cbe39539/contracts/deposit-service/AxelarDepositService.sol#L204

AxelarAuthWeighted.sol https://github.com/code-423n4/2022-07-axelar/blob/9c4c44b94cddbd48b9baae30051a4e13cbe39539/contracts/auth/AxelarAuthWeighted.sol#L17 https://github.com/code-423n4/2022-07-axelar/blob/9c4c44b94cddbd48b9baae30051a4e13cbe39539/contracts/auth/AxelarAuthWeighted.sol#L116

G-10 internal functions only called once can be inlined to save gas Not inlining costs 20 to 40 gas because of two extra JUMP instructions and additional stack operations needed for function calls.

G-11 Redundant zero initialization Solidity does not recognize null as a value, so uint variables are initialized to zero. Setting a uint variable to zero is redundant and can waste gas. There are several places where an int is initialized to zero, which looks like: uint256 amount = 0;

Mitigation: Remove the redundant zero initialization uint256 amount;

G-12 Empty blocks should be removed or emit something The code should be refactored such that they no longer exist, or the block should do something useful, such as emitting an event or reverting. If the contract is meant to be extended, the contract should be abstract and the function signatures be added without any default implementation. If the block is an empty if-statement block to avoid doing subsequent checks in the else-if/else conditions, the else-if/else conditions should be nested under the negation of the if-statement, because they involve different classes of checks, which may lead to the introduction of errors when the code is later modified (if(x){}else if(y){...}else{...} => if(!x){if(y){...}else{...}})

Instances include: ReceiverImplementation.sol https://github.com/code-423n4/2022-07-axelar/blob/9c4c44b94cddbd48b9baae30051a4e13cbe39539/contracts/deposit-service/ReceiverImplementation.sol#L12

AxelarDepositServiceProxy.sol https://github.com/code-423n4/2022-07-axelar/blob/9c4c44b94cddbd48b9baae30051a4e13cbe39539/contracts/deposit-service/AxelarDepositServiceProxy.sol#L13

AxelarAuthWeighted.sol https://github.com/code-423n4/2022-07-axelar/blob/9c4c44b94cddbd48b9baae30051a4e13cbe39539/contracts/auth/AxelarAuthWeighted.sol#L101

G-13 Not using the named return variables when a function returns, wastes deplyment gas

Mitigation: Named the return variables

code-423n4 / 2022-07-axelar-findings

Gas Optimizations #231

G-04 Comparison operators

G-05 Use a more recent version of solidity

G-08 calldata instead of memory for read-only function parameter

G-10 internal functions only called once can be inlined to save gas