CWE-94 - Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')
CWE-94 Medium
- Abstraction:
- Base
- Structure:
- Simple
- Status:
- Draft
- Weakness Name
Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')
- Description
The product constructs all or part of a code segment using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the syntax or behavior of the intended code segment.
When a product allows a user's input to contain code syntax, it might be possible for an attacker to craft the code in such a way that it will alter the intended control flow of the product. Such an alteration could lead to arbitrary code execution. Injection problems encompass a wide variety of issues -- all mitigated in very different ways. For this reason, the most effective way to discuss these weaknesses is to note the distinct features which classify them as injection weaknesses. The most important issue to note is that all injection problems share one thing in common -- i.e., they allow for the injection of control plane data into the user-controlled data plane. This means that the execution of the process may be altered by sending code in through legitimate data channels, using no other mechanism. While buffer overflows, and many other flaws, involve the use of some further issue to gain execution, injection problems need only for the data to be parsed. The most classic instantiations of this category of weakness are SQL injection and format string vulnerabilities.
- Common Consequences
Scope: Access Control
Impact: Bypass Protection Mechanism
Notes: In some cases, injectable code controls authentication; this may lead to a remote vulnerability.
Scope: Access Control
Impact: Gain Privileges or Assume Identity
Notes: Injected code can access resources that the attacker is directly prevented from accessing.
Scope: Integrity, Confidentiality, Availability
Impact: Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands
Notes: Code injection attacks can lead to loss of data integrity in nearly all cases as the control-plane data injected is always incidental to data recall or writing. Additionally, code injection can often result in the execution of arbitrary code.
Scope: Non-Repudiation
Impact: Hide Activities
Notes: Often the actions performed by injected control code are unlogged.
- Related Weaknesses
- Related Alerts
- Release Date:
- 2006-07-19
- Latest Modification Date:
- 2024-07-16
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