ZK/SEC Research notes from zkSecurity
All posts
announcement · security · zk

zkSecurity took part in judging the latest zkHack Montreal

zkhack

It was our pleasure to take part in the judging of the latest zkHack competition. An annual hackathon spanning a weekend (in Montreal this time) that brings together developers, researchers, and enthusiasts to explore the latest in zero-knowledge proofs and privacy-enhancing technologies.

The results of the competition and a write up of the event can be found here.

The projects that came out of this edition showcased the versatility and potential of ZK proofs in enhancing privacy in various applications, as well as solving real-world problems, exploring insanely creative new use cases like ZK breathalyzers, ZK & GPS and many more!

We were impressed to see what hackers came up with and are looking forward to the next edition!

Keep reading
Latest

Circom-Auditor: Open-Source Skills for Finding Vulnerabilities in Circom Code

We are releasing zk-skills, a set of open-source security skills for AI coding agents, starting with circom-auditor: a first line of defense against vulnerabilities in Circom circuits, compatible with both Claude Code and Codex. On the zkbugs benchmark it detects up to 66 of 70 known bugs when pointed at the vulnerable circuits, and up to 40 of 56 when let loose on the full original codebases, far ahead of existing Circom security tools.

Stefanos Chaliasos, Hao Pham, False Witness Team · August 05, 2026

Variants of KZG: Part III, Multilinear Commitments with Zeromorph

In this blog post, we extend univariate KZG commitments to multilinear polynomials through Zeromorph. We introduce the univariatization map, encode the multilinear quotient identity as a univariate identity, and explain why the quotient encodings require degree checks. We then show how Zeromorph batches these checks into a single degree-bounded KZG opening and walk through its end-to-end opening protocol. We conclude by examining its proof size, prover cost, and verifier cost.

Varun Thakore · August 04, 2026

Variants of KZG: Part II, Multilinear Commitments with PST

In this blog post, we extend the ideas behind univariate KZG commitments to multilinear polynomials through the PST commitment scheme. We derive the multilinear quotient identity, explain how PST commits to and opens multilinear polynomials using a specialized multilinear setup and walk through its opening protocol. We conclude by examining the proof size, prover and verifier costs, and the limitations that motivate other multilinear polynomial commitment schemes.

Varun Thakore · July 28, 2026
Recommended

On ZK Security, ZK Summit, and a Decade of Progress

On May 7th, we'll be in Rome sponsoring zkSummit14. A look back at a decade of progress in zero-knowledge, the current state of ZK security based on 100+ audits, and why events like zkSummit have become infrastructure for the field.

ZK/SEC · May 06, 2026

Ditch the Pump & Dump Drama: Your ZK Tech Hub Awaits

We're excited to share our latest project, zkNews, your go-to hub for all things zero-knowledge. This link aggregator keeps you updated with the latest ZK news, groundbreaking research, and cutting-edge projects. Dive into the ZK world, stay informed with breaking announcements, and explore innovative tools and applications. Join our beta and help shape the future of zkNews with your feedback. Big plans are in the works, and we'd love you to be a part of it!

ZK/SEC · May 31, 2024

SoK: What don’t we know? Understanding Security Vulnerabilities in SNARKs

We've teamed up with some of the top minds in academia and industry to dive deep into the world of zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs) and their vulnerabilities. Our new paper catalogues hundreds of ZK vulnerabilities, breaking down their root causes and offering strategies to sidestep these pitfalls. By digging into real-life SNARK implementations, we aim to bolster the security of these cutting-edge systems with actionable insights and recommendations. Curious about what makes ZKPs tick and how to keep them secure? You might find this study just what you need!

ZK/SEC · February 26, 2024
More to explore

zkHack x zkSecurity (Whiteboard Session) - What is Zero-Knowledge (like, actually)?

We're excited to join zkHack's new season of whiteboard sessions, where you'll dive into the real meaning of "Zero Knowledge" with Nicolas Mohnblatt and David Wong. Discover when true zero-knowledge is at play, explore the differences between honest and dishonest verifiers, and understand why adaptive models are preferred. We'll unpack methods for generating hiding commitments and give you a comprehensive overview of the zero-knowledge aspects of PLONK. Don't miss out on this opportunity to expand your understanding of ZK and its various applications!

ZK/SEC · October 04, 2024

Encrypted Mempools: Security Beyond Encryption

Encrypted mempools are an emerging approach to reducing transaction-ordering MEV. They are not just normal mempools with encryption added on top: they introduce a new security boundary around the exact moment a transaction becomes plaintext. This post explains the security model, the core invariant, and the subtle failure modes protocol designers need to consider.

Suneal Gong · May 07, 2026

noname 3.0: Native Hints, Standard Library, Compiler Visualizer, And More!

We're super excited to introduce noname 3.0, our zk programming language inspired by Rust and Golang, now achieving full feature parity with Circom. This update brings native hints, a standard library, debugging features, and a lot more to enhance developer experience. Dive into how hint functions work with an 'unsafe' keyword to balance innovation and security, explore our new stdlib modules, and see how the compiler pipeline visualizer can help you understand the compiling process. Plus, check out our next steps and how you can contribute to shaping noname's future.

ZK/SEC · November 13, 2024