Automated static analysis, commonly referred to as Static Application Security Testing (SAST), can find some instances of this weakness by analyzing source code (or binary/compiled code) without having to execute it. Typically, this is done by building a model of data flow and control flow, then searching for potentially-vulnerable patterns that connect "sources" (origins of input) with "sinks" (destinations where the data interacts with external components, a lower layer such as the OS, etc.)
CWE-282 Class Draft
Improper Ownership Management
This vulnerability occurs when a system incorrectly assigns or fails to verify which user or process rightfully controls a specific object or resource.
Definition
What is CWE-282?
This vulnerability occurs when a system incorrectly assigns or fails to verify which user or process rightfully controls a specific object or resource.
At its core, this flaw is about broken trust in access control. It happens when software doesn't properly track or validate the true 'owner' of a file, memory block, database record, or system object. This can allow unauthorized users to delete, modify, or access resources they shouldn't, simply because the system believes they own them. Think of it as handing your house keys to a stranger because a faulty system incorrectly listed them as the homeowner.
For developers, the main risk is that operations which should be restricted to a resource's creator—like deletion or permission changes—become available to others. To prevent this, always explicitly validate ownership through a trusted authority (like a kernel or central service) before performing sensitive actions. Never rely on unverified user-supplied claims or transient identifiers that can be forged or reused. Implement clear, centralized ownership lifecycle management for all critical resources.
Auswirkungen in der Praxis
Real-world CVEs caused by CWE-282
-
Program runs setuid root but relies on a configuration file owned by a non-root user.
Wie Angreifer es ausnutzen
Angreiferpfad Schritt für Schritt
- 1
This function is part of a privileged program that takes input from users with potentially lower privileges.
- 2
This code does not confirm that the process to be killed is owned by the requesting user, thus allowing an attacker to kill arbitrary processes.
- 3
This function remedies the problem by checking the owner of the process before killing it:
Verwundbares Codebeispiel
Vulnerable Python
This function is part of a privileged program that takes input from users with potentially lower privileges.
def killProcess(processID):
os.kill(processID, signal.SIGKILL) Sicheres Codebeispiel
Secure Python
This function remedies the problem by checking the owner of the process before killing it:
def killProcess(processID):
user = getCurrentUser()
```
#Check process owner against requesting user*
if getProcessOwner(processID) == user:
```
os.kill(processID, signal.SIGKILL)
return
else:
print("You cannot kill a process you don't own")
return 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-282
- Architecture and Design / Operation Very carefully manage the setting, management, and handling of privileges. Explicitly manage trust zones in the software.
Erkennungssignale
How to detect CWE-282
CWE-282
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-282?
Wie gravierend ist CWE-282?
Welche Sprachen oder Plattformen sind von CWE-282 betroffen?
Wie kann ich CWE-282 verhindern?
Wie erkennt und behebt Plexicus CWE-282?
Wo erfahre ich mehr über CWE-282?
Frequently asked questions
Was ist CWE-282?
This vulnerability occurs when a system incorrectly assigns or fails to verify which user or process rightfully controls a specific object or resource.
Wie gravierend ist CWE-282?
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-282 betroffen?
MITRE hat für diese CWE keine betroffenen Plattformen spezifiziert — sie kann in den meisten Anwendungs-Stacks auftreten.
Wie kann ich CWE-282 verhindern?
Very carefully manage the setting, management, and handling of privileges. Explicitly manage trust zones in the software.
Wie erkennt und behebt Plexicus CWE-282?
Die SAST-Engine von Plexicus erkennt die Datenfluss-Signatur von CWE-282 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-282?
MITRE veröffentlicht die kanonische Definition unter https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/282.html. Für ergänzende Hinweise kannst du auch die OWASP- und NIST-Dokumentation heranziehen.
Verwandte Schwachstellen
Weaknesses related to CWE-282
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
This vulnerability occurs when a system's access controls are too broad, allowing unauthorized users or processes to read or modify…
CWE-1224 Sibling
Improper Restriction of Write-Once Bit Fields
This vulnerability occurs when hardware write-once protection mechanisms, often called 'sticky bits,' are incorrectly implemented,…
CWE-1231 Sibling
Improper Prevention of Lock Bit Modification
This vulnerability occurs when hardware or firmware uses a lock bit to protect critical system registers or memory regions, but fails to…
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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Bereit zu validieren, was zählt.
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