Trust of System Event Data
Weakness ID: 360 (Weakness Base)Status: Incomplete
+ Description

Description Summary

Security based on event locations are insecure and can be spoofed.

Extended Description

Events are a messaging system which may provide control data to programs listening for events. Events often do not have any type of authentication framework to allow them to be verified from a trusted source. Any application, in Windows, on a given desktop can send a message to any window on the same desktop. There is no authentication framework for these messages. Therefore, any message can be used to manipulate any process on the desktop if the process does not check the validity and safeness of those messages.

+ Time of Introduction
  • Architecture and Design
  • Implementation
+ Applicable Platforms

Languages

All

+ Common Consequences
ScopeEffect
Authorization

If one trusts the system-event information and executes commands based on it, one could potentially take actions based on a spoofed identity.

+ Likelihood of Exploit

High

+ Demonstrative Examples

Example 1

(Bad Code)
Example Language: Java 
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
if (e.getSource()==button) System.out.println("print out secret information");
}
+ Potential Mitigations

Design through Implementation: Never trust or rely any of the information in an Event for security.

+ Relationships
NatureTypeIDNameView(s) this relationship pertains toView(s)
ChildOfWeakness ClassWeakness Class345Insufficient Verification of Data Authenticity
Development Concepts (primary)699
Research Concepts (primary)1000
ParentOfWeakness VariantWeakness Variant422Unprotected Windows Messaging Channel ('Shatter')
Research Concepts1000
+ Taxonomy Mappings
Mapped Taxonomy NameNode IDFitMapped Node Name
CLASPTrust of system event data
+ Content History
Submissions
Submission DateSubmitterOrganizationSource
CLASPExternally Mined
Modifications
Modification DateModifierOrganizationSource
2008-07-01Eric DalciCigitalExternal
updated Time of Introduction
2008-09-08CWE Content TeamMITREInternal
updated Common Consequences, Relationships, Other Notes, Taxonomy Mappings
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