Invocation of Process Using Visible Sensitive Information
Incomplete Base
Structure: Simple
Description
A process is invoked with sensitive command-line arguments, environment variables, or other elements that can be seen by other processes on the operating system.
Many operating systems allow a user to list information about processes that are owned by other users. Other users could see information such as command line arguments or environment variable settings. When this data contains sensitive information such as credentials, it might allow other users to launch an attack against the product or related resources.
Common Consequences 1
Scope: Confidentiality
Impact: Read Application Data
Demonstrative Examples 1
In the example below, the password for a keystore file is read from a system property.
Code Example:
Bad
Java
javaIf the property is defined on the command line when the program is invoked (using the -D... syntax), the password may be displayed in the OS process list.
Observed Examples 7
CVE-2005-1387password passed on command line
CVE-2005-2291password passed on command line
CVE-2001-1565username/password on command line allows local users to view via "ps" or other process listing programs
CVE-2004-1948Username/password on command line allows local users to view via "ps" or other process listing programs.
CVE-1999-1270PGP passphrase provided as command line argument.
CVE-2004-1058Kernel race condition allows reading of environment variables of a process that is still spawning.
CVE-2021-32638Code analysis product passes access tokens as a command-line parameter or through an environment variable, making them visible to other processes via the ps command.
Applicable Platforms
Languages:
Not Language-Specific : Undetermined
Modes of Introduction
Architecture and Design
Implementation
Operation
Functional Areas
- Program Invocation
Affected Resources
- System Process
Related Weaknesses
Taxonomy Mapping
- PLOVER
- Software Fault Patterns
Notes
Research GapUnder-studied, especially environment variables.