<p>Ethereum’s smart contracts have revolutionized decentralized applications, offering unparalleled opportunities for innovation. However, the platform’s hierarchical architecture exposes it to a diverse range of vulnerabilities that threaten its integrity, functionality, and trustworthiness. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of Ethereum’s core and extended layers. By identifying and critically examining 21 major vulnerabilities, this work highlights the interconnected nature of Ethereum’s ecosystem, where a single flaw can cascade across multiple layers. Detection challenges, including the lack of standardized datasets and evolving attack strategies, as well as mitigation hurdles like the immutability of smart contracts and resource constraints, are critically assessed. To address these issues, the study explores advanced techniques as well as the importance of secure development practices and cross-layer frameworks to enhance Ethereum’s resilience. This work not only provides actionable solutions to strengthen Ethereum’s security but also serves as a roadmap for safeguarding decentralized platforms, ensuring their scalability, adaptability, and reliability for future advancements in blockchain technology.</p>