CWEweakness

CWE-638 Not Using Complete Mediation

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Abstraction
Class
Structure
Simple
Status
Draft
Languages
Not Language-Specific
CWE version
5.0

Description

The product does not perform access checks on a resource every time the resource is accessed by an entity, which can create resultant weaknesses if that entity's rights or privileges change over time.

Common consequences

• Integrity, Confidentiality, Availability, Access Control, Other: Gain Privileges or Assume Identity, Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands, Bypass Protection Mechanism, Read Application Data, Other — A user might retain access to a critical resource even after privileges have been revoked, possibly allowing access to privileged functionality or sensitive information, depending on the role of the resource.

Potential mitigations

• [Architecture and Design] Invalidate cached privileges, file handles or descriptors, or other access credentials whenever identities, processes, policies, roles, capabilities or permissions change. Perform complete authentication checks before accepting, caching and reusing data, dynamic content and code (scripts). Avoid caching access control decisions as much as possible. • [Architecture and Design] Identify all possible code paths that might access sensitive resources. If possible, create and use a single interface that performs the access checks, and develop code standards that require use of this interface.

Observed examples

• CVE-2007-0408: Server does not properly validate client certificates when reusing cached connections.

Related

Attack pattern · CAPEC (1)

  • CAPEC-104 Cross Zone Scripting attack pattern

Observed example · CVE (1)

  • CVE-2007-0408 BEA Weblogic Server 8.1 through 8.1 SP4 does not properly validate client certificates when reusing cached connections, which allows remote… vulnerability

Child of · CWE (2)

  • CWE-657 Violation of Secure Design Principles weakness
  • CWE-862 Missing Authorization weakness

Referenced by CAPEC · weakness (1)

  • CAPEC-104 Cross Zone Scripting attack pattern

Referenced by CVE · weakness (1)

  • CVE-2024-56512 Apache NiFi 1.10.0 through 2.0.0 are missing fine-grained authorization checking for Parameter Contexts, referenced Controller Services,… vulnerability

Referenced by CWE · child of (1)

  • CWE-424 Improper Protection of Alternate Path weakness