Führe statische Analyse (SAST) auf der Codebasis aus und suche im Datenfluss nach dem unsicheren Muster.
CWE-1304 Base Draft
Improperly Preserved Integrity of Hardware Configuration State During a Power Save/Restore Operation
This vulnerability occurs when a hardware component saves its configuration state during a power-down operation but fails to protect or verify the integrity of that saved data before restoring it.…
Definition
What is CWE-1304?
This vulnerability occurs when a hardware component saves its configuration state during a power-down operation but fails to protect or verify the integrity of that saved data before restoring it. As a result, an attacker can tamper with the stored settings, leading to a compromised state when the device powers back on.
To optimize boot time, hardware Intellectual Property (IP) often saves its current operational state—like security settings or privilege levels—to persistent storage (e.g., flash memory) before entering a low-power mode. However, if this saved state isn't cryptographically protected or validated, an attacker with access to the storage can alter it. This manipulation could disable security features, escalate privileges, or force the hardware into a damaging configuration.
When the device restores from this tampered state after power-up, it blindly loads the corrupted configuration, activating the attacker's changes. This bypasses normal hardware security checks, potentially leading to persistent compromise, system damage, or a complete loss of security controls. The core issue is the lack of integrity checking (like using signatures or checksums) between the save and restore operations.
Auswirkungen in der Praxis
Real-world CVEs caused by CWE-1304
Bisher sind in MITREs Katalog keine öffentlichen CVE-Referenzen mit dieser CWE verknüpft.
Wie Angreifer es ausnutzen
Angreiferpfad Schritt für Schritt
- 1
The following pseudo code demonstrates the power save/restore workflow which may lead to weakness through a lack of validation of the config state after restore.
- 2
The following pseudo-code is the proper workflow for the integrity checking mitigation:
- 3
It must be noted that in the previous example of good pseudo code, the memory (where the hash of the config state is stored) must be trustworthy while the hardware is between the power save and restore states.
Verwundbares Codebeispiel
Vulnerable C
The following pseudo code demonstrates the power save/restore workflow which may lead to weakness through a lack of validation of the config state after restore.
void save_config_state()
{
```
void* cfg;
cfg = get_config_state();
save_config_state(cfg);
go_to_sleep();
}
void restore_config_state()
{
void* cfg;
cfg = get_config_file();
load_config_file(cfg);
} Sicheres Codebeispiel
Secure C
The following pseudo-code is the proper workflow for the integrity checking mitigation:
void save_config_state()
{
```
void* cfg;
void* sha;
cfg = get_config_state();
save_config_state(cfg);
// save hash(cfg) to trusted location
sha = get_hash_of_config_state(cfg);
save_hash(sha);
go_to_sleep();
}
void restore_config_state()
{
void* cfg;
void* sha_1, sha_2;
cfg = get_config_file();
// restore hash of config from trusted memory
sha_1 = get_persisted_sha_value();
sha_2 = get_hash_of_config_state(cfg);
if (sha_1 != sha_2)
assert_error_and_halt();
load_config_file(cfg);
} What changed: the unsafe sink is replaced (or the input is validated/escaped) so the same payload no longer triggers the weakness.
Präventions-Checkliste
How to prevent CWE-1304
- Architecture and Design Inside the IP, incorporate integrity checking on the configuration state via a cryptographic hash. The hash can be protected inside the IP such as by storing it in internal registers which never lose power. Before powering down, the IP performs a hash of the configuration and saves it in these persistent registers. Upon restore, the IP performs a hash of the saved configuration and compares it with the saved hash. If they do not match, then the IP should not trust the configuration.
- Integration Outside the IP, incorporate integrity checking of the configuration state via a trusted agent. Before powering down, the trusted agent performs a hash of the configuration and saves the hash in persistent storage. Upon restore, the IP requests the trusted agent validate its current configuration. If the configuration hash is invalid, then the IP should not trust the configuration.
- Integration Outside the IP, incorporate a protected environment that prevents undetected modification of the configuration state by untrusted agents. Before powering down, a trusted agent saves the IP's configuration state in this protected location that only it is privileged to. Upon restore, the trusted agent loads the saved state into the IP.
Erkennungssignale
How to detect CWE-1304
Führe dynamische Application-Security-Tests gegen den Live-Endpoint aus.
Beobachte Runtime-Logs auf ungewöhnliche Exception-Traces, fehlerhafte Eingaben oder Versuche, Autorisierung zu umgehen.
Code Review: Markiere jeden neuen Code, der Eingaben von dieser Oberfläche ohne validierte Framework-Helper verarbeitet.
CWE-1304
Don't catalog this weakness. Prove it's reachable.
Plexicus turns CWE catalogs into evidence: every CWE-pattern is matched against your real code graph, reach is proven on a sandbox clone, and verified findings ship as reviewed PRs.
Häufig gestellte Fragen Was ist CWE-1304?
Wie gravierend ist CWE-1304?
Welche Sprachen oder Plattformen sind von CWE-1304 betroffen?
Wie kann ich CWE-1304 verhindern?
Wie erkennt und behebt Plexicus CWE-1304?
Wo erfahre ich mehr über CWE-1304?
Frequently asked questions
Was ist CWE-1304?
This vulnerability occurs when a hardware component saves its configuration state during a power-down operation but fails to protect or verify the integrity of that saved data before restoring it. As a result, an attacker can tamper with the stored settings, leading to a compromised state when the device powers back on.
Wie gravierend ist CWE-1304?
MITRE hat für diese Schwachstelle keine Exploit-Wahrscheinlichkeit veröffentlicht. Behandle sie als mittlere Auswirkung, bis dein Threat Model anderes belegt.
Welche Sprachen oder Plattformen sind von CWE-1304 betroffen?
MITRE lists the following affected platforms: Not OS-Specific, Not Architecture-Specific, Not Technology-Specific.
Wie kann ich CWE-1304 verhindern?
Inside the IP, incorporate integrity checking on the configuration state via a cryptographic hash. The hash can be protected inside the IP such as by storing it in internal registers which never lose power. Before powering down, the IP performs a hash of the configuration and saves it in these persistent registers. Upon restore, the IP performs a hash of the saved configuration and compares it with the saved hash. If they do not match, then the IP should not trust the configuration. Outside…
Wie erkennt und behebt Plexicus CWE-1304?
Die SAST-Engine von Plexicus erkennt die Datenfluss-Signatur von CWE-1304 bei jedem Commit. Bei einem Treffer öffnet unser Codex-Remedium-Agent einen Fix-PR mit korrigiertem Code, Tests und einer einzeiligen Zusammenfassung für den Reviewer.
Wo erfahre ich mehr über CWE-1304?
MITRE veröffentlicht die kanonische Definition unter https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/1304.html. Für ergänzende Hinweise kannst du auch die OWASP- und NIST-Dokumentation heranziehen.
Verwandte Schwachstellen
Weaknesses related to CWE-1304
CWE-284 Parent
Improper Access Control
The software fails to properly limit who can access a resource, allowing unauthorized users or systems to interact with it.
CWE-1191 Sibling
On-Chip Debug and Test Interface With Improper Access Control
This vulnerability occurs when a hardware chip's debug or test interface (like JTAG) lacks proper access controls. Without correct…
CWE-1220 Sibling
Insufficient Granularity of Access Control
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CWE-1224 Sibling
Improper Restriction of Write-Once Bit Fields
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CWE-1231 Sibling
Improper Prevention of Lock Bit Modification
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CWE-1233 Sibling
Security-Sensitive Hardware Controls with Missing Lock Bit Protection
This vulnerability occurs when a hardware device uses a lock bit to protect critical configuration registers, but the lock fails to…
CWE-1252 Sibling
CPU Hardware Not Configured to Support Exclusivity of Write and Execute Operations
This vulnerability occurs when a CPU's hardware is not set up to enforce a strict separation between writing data to memory and executing…
CWE-1257 Sibling
Improper Access Control Applied to Mirrored or Aliased Memory Regions
This vulnerability occurs when a hardware design maps the same physical memory to multiple addresses (aliasing or mirroring) but fails to…
CWE-1259 Sibling
Improper Restriction of Security Token Assignment
This vulnerability occurs when a System-on-a-Chip (SoC) fails to properly secure its Security Token mechanism. These tokens control which…
Ressourcen
Further reading
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