CWE-1316: Fabric-Address Map Allows Programming of Unwarranted Overlaps of Protected and Unprotected Ranges

Definition

What is CWE-1316?

This vulnerability occurs when a hardware fabric's address map incorrectly allows protected and unprotected memory regions to overlap. Attackers can exploit this overlap to bypass security controls and access restricted data or functions.

In system-on-chip (SoC) designs, the address map defines protected and unprotected ranges for memory and memory-mapped I/O (MMIO). These ranges, often set by base and size registers, are meant to enforce isolation—keeping sensitive data in access-controlled areas. However, if these ranges are programmed to overlap, either accidentally through a design error or intentionally via malicious software in dynamically reconfigurable systems, the hardware's access control logic can become confused. When a protected range overlaps with an unprotected one, an attacker can craft transactions targeting the overlapping address space. Since the unprotected path provides a valid route, the hardware may fail to apply the proper security checks, allowing unauthorized access. This breach violates the core security principle of least privilege, as the overlap creates a backdoor that circumvents the intended protection mechanisms.

Auswirkungen in der Praxis

Real-world CVEs caused by CWE-1316

CVE-2009-4419

Attacker can modify MCHBAR register to overlap with an attacker-controlled region, which modification prevents the SENTER instruction from properly applying VT-d protection while a Measured Launch Environment is being launched.

Wie Angreifer es ausnutzen

Angreiferpfad Schritt für Schritt

1
An on-chip fabric supports a 64KB address space that is memory-mapped. The fabric has two range registers that support creation of two protected ranges with specific size constraints--4KB, 8KB, 16KB or 32KB. Assets that belong to user A require 4KB, and those of user B require 20KB. Registers and other assets that are not security-sensitive require 40KB. One range register is configured to program 4KB to protect user A's assets. Since a 20KB range cannot be created with the given size constraints, the range register for user B's assets is configured as 32KB. The rest of the address space is left as open. As a result, some part of untrusted and open-address space overlaps with user B range.
2
The fabric does not support least privilege, and an attacker can send a transaction to the overlapping region to tamper with user B data.
3
Since range B only requires 20KB but is allotted 32KB, there is 12KB of reserved space. Overlapping this region of user B data, where there are no assets, with the untrusted space will prevent an attacker from tampering with user B data.

Verwundbares Codebeispiel

Vulnerable pseudo

MITRE hat kein Codebeispiel für diese CWE veröffentlicht. Das untenstehende Muster ist illustrativ — kanonische Referenzen findest du unter Ressourcen.

Verwundbar pseudo

// Example pattern — see MITRE for the canonical references.
function handleRequest(input) {
  // Untrusted input flows directly into the sensitive sink.
  return executeUnsafe(input);
}

Sicheres Codebeispiel

Secure pseudo

Sicher pseudo

// Validate, sanitize, or use a safe API before reaching the sink.
function handleRequest(input) {
  const safe = validateAndEscape(input);
  return executeWithGuards(safe);
}

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-1316

Architecture and Design When architecting the address map of the chip, ensure that protected and unprotected ranges are isolated and do not overlap. When designing, ensure that ranges hardcoded in Register-Transfer Level (RTL) do not overlap.
Implementation Ranges configured by firmware should not overlap. If overlaps are mandatory because of constraints such as a limited number of registers, then ensure that no assets are present in the overlapped portion.
Testing Validate mitigation actions with robust testing.

Erkennungssignale

How to detect CWE-1316

Automated Dynamic Analysis High

Review address map in specification to see if there are any overlapping ranges.

Manual Static Analysis High

Negative testing of access control on overlapped ranges.

CWE-1316

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.

Request AI Swarm Pentest

Häufig gestellte Fragen

Frequently asked questions

Was ist CWE-1316?

This vulnerability occurs when a hardware fabric's address map incorrectly allows protected and unprotected memory regions to overlap. Attackers can exploit this overlap to bypass security controls and access restricted data or functions.

Wie gravierend ist CWE-1316?

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-1316 betroffen?

MITRE lists the following affected platforms: Not OS-Specific, Not Architecture-Specific, Bus/Interface Hardware, Not Technology-Specific.

Wie kann ich CWE-1316 verhindern?

When architecting the address map of the chip, ensure that protected and unprotected ranges are isolated and do not overlap. When designing, ensure that ranges hardcoded in Register-Transfer Level (RTL) do not overlap. Ranges configured by firmware should not overlap. If overlaps are mandatory because of constraints such as a limited number of registers, then ensure that no assets are present in the overlapped portion.

Wie erkennt und behebt Plexicus CWE-1316?

Die SAST-Engine von Plexicus erkennt die Datenfluss-Signatur von CWE-1316 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-1316?

MITRE veröffentlicht die kanonische Definition unter https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/1316.html. Für ergänzende Hinweise kannst du auch die OWASP- und NIST-Dokumentation heranziehen.

Verwandte Schwachstellen

Weaknesses related to CWE-1316

CWE-284 Parent

Bereit zu validieren, was zählt.

Plexicus ist Proof-Driven AppSec: validierte Funde, kontextuelles Verständnis und geprüfte Remediation — in Evidenz verankert, mit Ihnen gescoped.

Pentest buchen

Fabric-Address Map Allows Programming of Unwarranted Overlaps of Protected and Unprotected Ranges

What is CWE-1316?

Real-world CVEs caused by CWE-1316

Angreiferpfad Schritt für Schritt

Vulnerable pseudo

Secure pseudo

How to prevent CWE-1316

How to detect CWE-1316

Don't catalog this weakness. Prove it's reachable.

Frequently asked questions

Weaknesses related to CWE-1316

Improper Access Control

On-Chip Debug and Test Interface With Improper Access Control

Insufficient Granularity of Access Control

Improper Restriction of Write-Once Bit Fields

Improper Prevention of Lock Bit Modification

Security-Sensitive Hardware Controls with Missing Lock Bit Protection

CPU Hardware Not Configured to Support Exclusivity of Write and Execute Operations

Improper Access Control Applied to Mirrored or Aliased Memory Regions

Improper Restriction of Security Token Assignment

Further reading

Bereit zu validieren, was zählt.

Prüfen Sie, ob AI Swarm Pentest zu Ihrer Umgebung passt.

Anfrage erhalten. Nächsten Schritt buchen.

Sample evidence handover

Server-Side Request Forgery in `webhooks/receiver`