Ejecuta análisis estático (SAST) sobre el código buscando el patrón inseguro en el flujo de datos.
CWE-1278 Base Incompleto
Missing Protection Against Hardware Reverse Engineering Using Integrated Circuit (IC) Imaging Techniques
This vulnerability occurs when hardware lacks safeguards against physical inspection, allowing attackers to extract sensitive data by capturing and analyzing high-resolution images of the integrated…
Definición
What is CWE-1278?
This vulnerability occurs when hardware lacks safeguards against physical inspection, allowing attackers to extract sensitive data by capturing and analyzing high-resolution images of the integrated circuit's internal structure.
Attackers can physically reverse-engineer chips to uncover secrets stored within the silicon. By removing the chip packaging and using advanced imaging techniques—from non-invasive X-ray microscopy to destructive layer-by-layer scanning electron microscopy—they can visually map the circuit's layout and memory contents. This process directly reveals information that software attacks cannot access.
Hardware secrets like encryption keys, device identifiers, proprietary firmware, or circuit designs stored in non-volatile memory (such as Masked ROM) or within the circuit netlist itself are exposed. While some memory types like One-Time Programmable (OTP) memory offer more resistance, the absence of dedicated anti-tampering protections makes extraction feasible for determined adversaries with specialized equipment.
Impacto en el mundo real
Real-world CVEs caused by CWE-1278
Todavía no hay CVEs públicos enlazados a esta CWE en el catálogo de MITRE.
Cómo lo explotan los atacantes
Ruta del atacante paso a paso
- 1
Identifica una ruta de código que maneje entrada no confiable sin validación.
- 2
Crea un payload que ejercite el comportamiento inseguro — inyección, traversal, overflow o abuso de lógica.
- 3
Envía el payload a través de una solicitud normal y observa la reacción de la aplicación.
- 4
Itera hasta que la respuesta filtre datos, ejecute código del atacante o escale privilegios.
Ejemplo de código vulnerable
Vulnerable pseudo
MITRE no ha publicado un ejemplo de código para esta CWE. El patrón siguiente es ilustrativo — consulta Recursos para referencias canónicas.
// Example pattern — see MITRE for the canonical references.
function handleRequest(input) {
// Untrusted input flows directly into the sensitive sink.
return executeUnsafe(input);
} Ejemplo de código seguro
Secure 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.
Lista de prevención
How to prevent CWE-1278
- Architecture and Design The cost of secret extraction via IC reverse engineering should outweigh the potential value of the secrets being extracted. Threat model and value of secrets should be used to choose the technology used to safeguard those secrets. Examples include IC camouflaging and obfuscation, tamper-proof packaging, active shielding, and physical tampering detection information erasure.
Señales de detección
How to detect CWE-1278
Ejecuta pruebas dinámicas de seguridad de aplicaciones (DAST) contra el endpoint en vivo.
Vigila los logs en tiempo de ejecución para detectar trazas de excepción inusuales, entradas malformadas o intentos de bypass de autorización.
Revisión de código: marca cualquier código nuevo que maneje entrada desde esta superficie sin usar los helpers validados del framework.
CWE-1278
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.
Preguntas frecuentes ¿Qué es CWE-1278?
¿Qué gravedad tiene CWE-1278?
¿Qué lenguajes o plataformas se ven afectados por CWE-1278?
¿Cómo puedo prevenir CWE-1278?
¿Cómo detecta y corrige Plexicus CWE-1278?
¿Dónde puedo aprender más sobre CWE-1278?
Frequently asked questions
¿Qué es CWE-1278?
This vulnerability occurs when hardware lacks safeguards against physical inspection, allowing attackers to extract sensitive data by capturing and analyzing high-resolution images of the integrated circuit's internal structure.
¿Qué gravedad tiene CWE-1278?
MITRE no ha publicado una calificación de probabilidad de explotación para esta debilidad. Trátala como de impacto medio hasta que tu modelo de amenazas demuestre lo contrario.
¿Qué lenguajes o plataformas se ven afectados por CWE-1278?
MITRE lists the following affected platforms: Not OS-Specific, Not Architecture-Specific, Not Technology-Specific.
¿Cómo puedo prevenir CWE-1278?
The cost of secret extraction via IC reverse engineering should outweigh the potential value of the secrets being extracted. Threat model and value of secrets should be used to choose the technology used to safeguard those secrets. Examples include IC camouflaging and obfuscation, tamper-proof packaging, active shielding, and physical tampering detection information erasure.
¿Cómo detecta y corrige Plexicus CWE-1278?
El motor SAST de Plexicus detecta la firma de flujo de datos para CWE-1278 en cada commit. Cuando hay coincidencia, nuestro agente Codex Remedium abre un PR de corrección con el código corregido, las pruebas y un resumen de una línea para el revisor.
¿Dónde puedo aprender más sobre CWE-1278?
MITRE publica la definición canónica en https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/1278.html. También puedes consultar la documentación de OWASP y NIST para guías relacionadas.
Debilidades relacionadas
Weaknesses related to CWE-1278
CWE-693 Padre
Protection Mechanism Failure
This weakness occurs when software either lacks a necessary security control, implements one that is too weak, or fails to activate an…
CWE-1039 Hermano
Inadequate Detection or Handling of Adversarial Input Perturbations in Automated Recognition Mechanism
This vulnerability occurs when a system uses automated AI or machine learning to classify complex inputs like images, audio, or text, but…
CWE-1248 Hermano
Semiconductor Defects in Hardware Logic with Security-Sensitive Implications
A security-critical hardware component contains physical flaws in its semiconductor material, which can cause it to malfunction and…
CWE-1253 Hermano
Incorrect Selection of Fuse Values
This vulnerability occurs when a hardware security fuse is incorrectly programmed to represent a 'secure' state as logic 0 (unblown). An…
CWE-1269 Hermano
Product Released in Non-Release Configuration
This vulnerability occurs when a product ships to customers while still configured with its pre-production or manufacturing settings,…
CWE-1291 Hermano
Public Key Re-Use for Signing both Debug and Production Code
This vulnerability occurs when the same cryptographic key is used to sign both development/debug software builds and final production…
CWE-1318 Hermano
Missing Support for Security Features in On-chip Fabrics or Buses
This vulnerability occurs when the communication channels (fabrics or buses) within a chip lack built-in or enabled security features,…
CWE-1319 Hermano
Improper Protection against Electromagnetic Fault Injection (EM-FI)
This vulnerability occurs when a hardware device lacks sufficient shielding against electromagnetic interference, allowing attackers to…
CWE-1326 Hermano
Missing Immutable Root of Trust in Hardware
This vulnerability occurs when a hardware chip lacks a permanent, unchangeable root of trust. Without this immutable foundation, attackers…
Recursos
Further reading
¿Listo para validar lo que importa?
Listo para validar lo que importa.
Plexicus es Proof-Driven AppSec: hallazgos validados, comprensión contextual y remediación revisada — anclada en evidencia, acotada contigo.