Can Formal Verification Prove the Absence of All Security Vulnerabilities?
No, formal verification cannot prove the absence of all security vulnerabilities. It can only prove that the code correctly implements the formal specification.
If the specification itself is flawed (a "mis-specification bug"), or if the vulnerability lies in the underlying compiler, the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), or the external environment (like an oracle), the formal proof will not catch it. It provides certainty for the code's logic against its stated goals, but not for the entire deployment ecosystem.
Glossar
Verification
Attestation ⎊ Verification within cryptocurrency, options trading, and financial derivatives functions as a critical process confirming the validity of transactions and data integrity, particularly vital in decentralized systems lacking central authorities.
Formal Verification
Process ⎊ Formal verification is a rigorous mathematical process used to prove the correctness of algorithms, protocols, or smart contract code against a formal specification.
Ethereum Virtual Machine
Computation ⎊ The Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) functions as a decentralized, Turing-complete computational engine, central to the execution of smart contracts on the Ethereum blockchain.