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-269 Clase Borrador
Improper Privilege Management
This vulnerability occurs when an application fails to correctly manage user permissions, allowing someone to perform actions or access data beyond their intended authority.
Definición
What is CWE-269?
This vulnerability occurs when an application fails to correctly manage user permissions, allowing someone to perform actions or access data beyond their intended authority.
Improper privilege management is a core security flaw where the system's logic for granting, changing, or verifying user rights is broken. Instead of consistently enforcing a 'least privilege' model, it creates gaps where attackers or even regular users can escalate their access, modify settings, view sensitive information, or delete data they shouldn't touch. This often stems from flawed assumptions, missing checks, or errors in how roles and permissions are tracked throughout a user's session.
To prevent this, developers must implement a centralized, deny-by-default authorization layer that validates every request against the user's current, verified privileges. Key strategies include using server-side checks for all actions, avoiding reliance on client-side controls, implementing proper session management, and conducting regular audits of permission assignments. Always explicitly verify 'who can do what' at the point of every action, never assuming the user interface or a previous check is sufficient.
Impacto en el mundo real
Real-world CVEs caused by CWE-269
-
Terminal privileges are not reset when a user logs out.
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Does not properly pass security context to child processes in certain cases, allows privilege escalation.
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Does not properly compute roles.
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untrusted user placed in unix "wheel" group
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Product allows users to grant themselves certain rights that can be used to escalate privileges.
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Product uses group ID of a user instead of the group, causing it to run with different privileges. This is resultant from some other unknown issue.
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Product mistakenly assigns a particular status to an entity, leading to increased privileges.
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FTP client program on a certain OS runs with setuid privileges and has a buffer overflow. Most clients do not need extra privileges, so an overflow is not a vulnerability for those clients.
Cómo lo explotan los atacantes
Ruta del atacante paso a paso
- 1
This code temporarily raises the program's privileges to allow creation of a new user folder.
- 2
While the program only raises its privilege level to create the folder and immediately lowers it again, if the call to os.mkdir() throws an exception, the call to lowerPrivileges() will not occur. As a result, the program is indefinitely operating in a raised privilege state, possibly allowing further exploitation to occur.
- 3
The following example demonstrates the weakness.
- 4
The following example demonstrates the weakness.
- 5
This code intends to allow only Administrators to print debug information about a system.
Ejemplo de código vulnerable
Vulnerable Python
This code temporarily raises the program's privileges to allow creation of a new user folder.
def makeNewUserDir(username):
if invalidUsername(username):
```
#avoid CWE-22 and CWE-78*
print('Usernames cannot contain invalid characters')
return False
try:
```
raisePrivileges()
os.mkdir('/home/' + username)
lowerPrivileges()
except OSError:
print('Unable to create new user directory for user:' + username)
return False
return True 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-269
- Architecture and Design / Operation Very carefully manage the setting, management, and handling of privileges. Explicitly manage trust zones in the software.
- Architecture and Design Follow the principle of least privilege when assigning access rights to entities in a software system.
- Architecture and Design Consider following the principle of separation of privilege. Require multiple conditions to be met before permitting access to a system resource.
Señales de detección
How to detect CWE-269
CWE-269
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-269?
¿Qué gravedad tiene CWE-269?
¿Qué lenguajes o plataformas se ven afectados por CWE-269?
¿Cómo puedo prevenir CWE-269?
¿Cómo detecta y corrige Plexicus CWE-269?
¿Dónde puedo aprender más sobre CWE-269?
Frequently asked questions
¿Qué es CWE-269?
This vulnerability occurs when an application fails to correctly manage user permissions, allowing someone to perform actions or access data beyond their intended authority.
¿Qué gravedad tiene CWE-269?
MITRE califica la probabilidad de explotación como Media — la explotación es realista pero suele requerir condiciones específicas.
¿Qué lenguajes o plataformas se ven afectados por CWE-269?
MITRE no ha especificado plataformas afectadas para esta CWE — puede aplicar a la mayoría de los stacks de aplicaciones.
¿Cómo puedo prevenir CWE-269?
Very carefully manage the setting, management, and handling of privileges. Explicitly manage trust zones in the software. Follow the principle of least privilege when assigning access rights to entities in a software system.
¿Cómo detecta y corrige Plexicus CWE-269?
El motor SAST de Plexicus detecta la firma de flujo de datos para CWE-269 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-269?
MITRE publica la definición canónica en https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/269.html. También puedes consultar la documentación de OWASP y NIST para guías relacionadas.
Debilidades relacionadas
Weaknesses related to CWE-269
CWE-284 Padre
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 Hermano
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 Hermano
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 Hermano
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 Hermano
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 Hermano
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 Hermano
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 Hermano
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 Hermano
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…
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