According to SOAR [REF-1479], the following detection techniques may be useful: ``` Cost effective for partial coverage: ``` Inspection (IEEE 1028 standard) (can apply to requirements, design, source code, etc.)
CWE-514 Classe Incomplet
Covert Channel
A covert channel is a hidden communication path that allows data to be transmitted in a way that bypasses the system's intended security controls and monitoring.
Définition
What is CWE-514?
A covert channel is a hidden communication path that allows data to be transmitted in a way that bypasses the system's intended security controls and monitoring.
Covert channels work by exploiting legitimate system features—like timing, storage patterns, or resource usage—to secretly encode and transfer information. Attackers or malicious processes use these channels to exfiltrate data, coordinate actions, or maintain persistence without triggering standard security alerts, effectively hiding in plain sight.
From a developer's perspective, these channels are dangerous because the system neither authorizes nor detects the unauthorized transmission. This lack of awareness means security tools focused on network traffic or file permissions may completely miss the leak, leaving sensitive data exposed through unexpected side channels in your own application logic or platform dependencies.
Impact réel
Real-world CVEs caused by CWE-514
Aucune référence CVE publique n'est liée à ce CWE dans le catalogue MITRE pour le moment.
Comment les attaquants l'exploitent
Parcours de l'attaquant étape par étape
- 1
In this example, the attacker observes how long an authentication takes when the user types in the correct password.
- 2
When the attacker tries their own values, they can first try strings of various length. When they find a string of the right length, the computation will take a bit longer, because the for loop will run at least once. Additionally, with this code, the attacker can possibly learn one character of the password at a time, because when they guess the first character right, the computation will take longer than a wrong guesses. Such an attack can break even the most sophisticated password with a few hundred guesses.
- 3
Note that in this example, the actual password must be handled in constant time as far as the attacker is concerned, even if the actual password is of an unusual length. This is one reason why it is good to use an algorithm that, among other things, stores a seeded cryptographic one-way hash of the password, then compare the hashes, which will always be of the same length.
Exemple de code vulnérable
Vulnerable Python
When the attacker tries their own values, they can first try strings of various length. When they find a string of the right length, the computation will take a bit longer, because the for loop will run at least once. Additionally, with this code, the attacker can possibly learn one character of the password at a time, because when they guess the first character right, the computation will take longer than a wrong guesses. Such an attack can break even the most sophisticated password with a few hundred guesses.
def validate_password(actual_pw, typed_pw):
if len(actual_pw) <> len(typed_pw):
return 0
for i in len(actual_pw):
if actual_pw[i] <> typed_pw[i]:
return 0
return 1 Exemple de code sécurisé
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.
Liste de contrôle de prévention
How to prevent CWE-514
- Architecture Use safe-by-default frameworks and APIs that prevent the unsafe pattern from being expressible.
- Implementation Validate input at trust boundaries; use allowlists, not denylists.
- Implementation Apply the principle of least privilege to credentials, file paths, and runtime permissions.
- Testing Cover this weakness in CI: SAST rules + targeted unit tests for the data flow.
- Operation Monitor logs for the runtime signals listed in the next section.
Signaux de détection
How to detect CWE-514
CWE-514
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.
Questions fréquentes Qu'est-ce que CWE-514 ?
Quelle est la gravité de CWE-514 ?
Quels langages ou plateformes sont affectés par CWE-514 ?
Comment puis-je prévenir CWE-514 ?
Comment Plexicus détecte et corrige CWE-514 ?
Où puis-je en savoir plus sur CWE-514 ?
Frequently asked questions
Qu'est-ce que CWE-514 ?
A covert channel is a hidden communication path that allows data to be transmitted in a way that bypasses the system's intended security controls and monitoring.
Quelle est la gravité de CWE-514 ?
MITRE n'a pas publié de note de probabilité d'exploitation pour cette faiblesse. Traitez-la comme un impact moyen jusqu'à ce que votre modèle de menace prouve le contraire.
Quels langages ou plateformes sont affectés par CWE-514 ?
MITRE n'a pas spécifié les plateformes affectées pour ce CWE — il peut s'appliquer à la plupart des stacks applicatives.
Comment puis-je prévenir CWE-514 ?
Use safe-by-default frameworks, validate untrusted input at trust boundaries, and apply the principle of least privilege. Cover the data-flow signature in CI with SAST.
Comment Plexicus détecte et corrige CWE-514 ?
Le moteur SAST de Plexicus reconnaît la signature de flux de données de CWE-514 à chaque commit. Lorsqu'une correspondance est trouvée, notre agent Codex Remedium ouvre une PR de correction avec le code corrigé, les tests et un résumé d'une ligne pour le relecteur.
Où puis-je en savoir plus sur CWE-514 ?
MITRE publie la définition canonique à https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/514.html. Vous pouvez également consulter la documentation OWASP et NIST pour des conseils adjacents.
Faiblesses associées
Weaknesses related to CWE-514
CWE-1229 Parent
Creation of Emergent Resource
This vulnerability occurs when a system's normal operations unintentionally create new, exploitable resources that attackers can use to…
CWE-385 Enfant
Covert Timing Channel
A covert timing channel is a security flaw where an attacker can deduce secret information by observing how long certain operations take…
CWE-515 Enfant
Covert Storage Channel
A covert storage channel is a type of security flaw where one process secretly encodes data into a shared system resource (like a file,…
Ressources
Further reading
- MITRE — CWE-514 officiel https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/514.html
- A Taxonomy of Computer Program Security Flaws, with Examples https://cwe.mitre.org/documents/sources/ATaxonomyofComputerProgramSecurityFlawswithExamples%5BLandwehr93%5D.pdf
- State-of-the-Art Resources (SOAR) for Software Vulnerability Detection, Test, and Evaluation https://www.ida.org/-/media/feature/publications/s/st/stateoftheart-resources-soar-for-software-vulnerability-detection-test-and-evaluation/p-5061.ashx
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