CWE-782 Variante Borrador

Exposed IOCTL with Insufficient Access Control

This vulnerability occurs when a system exposes an IOCTL (Input/Output Control) interface that performs sensitive operations, but fails to implement proper checks to verify which users or processes…

Definición

What is CWE-782?

This vulnerability occurs when a system exposes an IOCTL (Input/Output Control) interface that performs sensitive operations, but fails to implement proper checks to verify which users or processes are allowed to call it.
An IOCTL often acts as a backdoor for privileged kernel or driver functions. If this interface is left exposed without strict access controls, attackers can directly invoke it to perform actions they shouldn't be allowed to. This is especially dangerous because developers often assume only trusted, high-level software will use these commands. As a result, the IOCTL might perform minimal validation of incoming data, turning a simple interface into a major security flaw that bypasses normal security layers. The specific methods for exploiting and securing IOCTLs vary significantly across different operating systems (like Windows, Linux, or macOS) and even between versions. Therefore, mitigation requires understanding your platform's specific security model—such as using proper driver object security descriptors, role-based checks, or mandatory integrity controls—to ensure only authorized callers can reach this powerful functionality.
Impacto en el mundo real

Real-world CVEs caused by CWE-782

  • Operating system does not enforce permissions on an IOCTL that can be used to modify network settings.

  • Device driver does not restrict ioctl calls to its direct rendering manager.

  • ioctl does not check for a required capability before processing certain requests.

  • Chain: insecure device permissions allows access to an IOCTL, allowing arbitrary memory to be overwritten.

  • Chain: anti-virus product uses weak permissions for a device, leading to resultant buffer overflow in an exposed IOCTL.

  • Chain: sandbox allows opening of a TTY device, enabling shell commands through an exposed ioctl.

  • Anti-virus product uses insecure security descriptor for a device driver, allowing access to a privileged IOCTL.

  • Unauthorized user can disable keyboard or mouse by directly invoking a privileged IOCTL.

Cómo lo explotan los atacantes

Ruta del atacante paso a paso

  1. 1

    Identifica una ruta de código que maneje entrada no confiable sin validación.

  2. 2

    Crea un payload que ejercite el comportamiento inseguro — inyección, traversal, overflow o abuso de lógica.

  3. 3

    Envía el payload a través de una solicitud normal y observa la reacción de la aplicación.

  4. 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.

Vulnerable pseudo
// 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

Seguro 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-782

  • Architecture and Design In Windows environments, use proper access control for the associated device or device namespace. See References.
Señales de detección

How to detect CWE-782

SAST High

Ejecuta análisis estático (SAST) sobre el código buscando el patrón inseguro en el flujo de datos.

DAST Moderate

Ejecuta pruebas dinámicas de seguridad de aplicaciones (DAST) contra el endpoint en vivo.

Runtime Moderate

Vigila los logs en tiempo de ejecución para detectar trazas de excepción inusuales, entradas malformadas o intentos de bypass de autorización.

Code review Moderate

Revisión de código: marca cualquier código nuevo que maneje entrada desde esta superficie sin usar los helpers validados del framework.

CWE-782

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

Frequently asked questions

¿Qué es CWE-782?

This vulnerability occurs when a system exposes an IOCTL (Input/Output Control) interface that performs sensitive operations, but fails to implement proper checks to verify which users or processes are allowed to call it.

¿Qué gravedad tiene CWE-782?

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-782?

MITRE lists the following affected platforms: C, C++, Unix, Windows.

¿Cómo puedo prevenir CWE-782?

In Windows environments, use proper access control for the associated device or device namespace. See References.

¿Cómo detecta y corrige Plexicus CWE-782?

El motor SAST de Plexicus detecta la firma de flujo de datos para CWE-782 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-782?

MITRE publica la definición canónica en https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/782.html. También puedes consultar la documentación de OWASP y NIST para guías relacionadas.

¿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.

Calificación

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Antes de enviar — verifica que encajas

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SAMPLE HANDOVER · ILLUSTRATIVE

Sample evidence handover

A trimmed view of what your team receives at the end of an AI Swarm Pentest engagement. Real engagements include full technical evidence, executive narrative, and a remediation plan.

VALIDATED FINDING Evidence attached

Server-Side Request Forgery in webhooks/receiver

demo-project/sample-app · src/webhooks/receiver.py:42

SeverityHigh CVSS 3.18.6 Priority79 Confirmedvia replay

Untrusted caller-supplied URLs reach an internal egress without an allowlist. Replayed in a sandbox against a fresh authorized target — the same control was validated to fail twice.

REVIEWER-READY REMEDIATION Merge-ready PR

Validate the target URL against an allowlist of permitted hostnames. Reject private/internal IP ranges. Enforce HTTPS only.

plexicus/remediation/webhooks-ssrf 3 changed · 0 new files
42resp = requests.get(target_url)
42+if not is_allowed_host(target_url):
43+  raise WebhookRejected(target_url)
44+resp = requests.get(target_url, timeout=5)
Every engagement hands over:
  • Executive briefing
  • Validated findings list
  • Merge-ready PRs
  • Compliance mapping (NIS2 · DORA · CRA)
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