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CWE-403 - Exposure of File Descriptor to Unintended Control Sphere ('File Descriptor Leak')

CWE-403

  • Abstraction:
  • Base
  • Structure:
  • Simple
  • Status:
  • Draft
Weakness Name

Exposure of File Descriptor to Unintended Control Sphere ('File Descriptor Leak')

Description

A process does not close sensitive file descriptors before invoking a child process, which allows the child to perform unauthorized I/O operations using those descriptors.

When a new process is forked or executed, the child process inherits any open file descriptors. When the child process has fewer privileges than the parent process, this might introduce a vulnerability if the child process can access the file descriptor but does not have the privileges to access the associated file.

Common Consequences

Scope: Confidentiality, Integrity

Impact: Read Application Data, Modify Application Data

Related Weaknesses
  • Release Date:
  • 2006-07-19
  • Latest Modification Date:
  • 2023-06-29

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