Insufficient Control of Network Message Volume (Network Amplification)
Weakness ID: 406 (Weakness Base)Status: Incomplete
+ Description

Description Summary

The software does not sufficiently monitor or control transmitted network traffic volume, so that an actor can cause the software to transmit more traffic than should be allowed for that actor.

Extended Description

In the absence of a policy to restrict asymmetric resource consumption, the application or system cannot distinguish between legitimate transmissions and traffic intended to serve as an amplifying attack on target systems. Systems can often be configured to restrict the amount of traffic sent out on behalf of a client, based on the client's origin or access level. This is usually defined in a resource allocation policy. In the absence of a mechanism to keep track of transmissions, the system or application can be easily abused to transmit asymmetrically greater traffic than the request or client should be permitted to.

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

Languages

All

+ Enabling Factors for Exploitation

If the application uses UDP, then it could potentially be subject to spoofing attacks that use the inherent weaknesses of UDP to perform traffic amplification, although this problem can exist in other protocols or contexts.

+ Observed Examples
ReferenceDescription
CVE-1999-0513Smurf attack, spoofed ICMP packets to broadcast addresses.
CVE-1999-1379DNS query with spoofed source address causes more traffic to be returned to spoofed address than was sent by the attacker.
CVE-2000-0041Large datagrams are sent in response to malformed datagrams.
CVE-1999-1066Game server sends a large amount.
+ Potential Mitigations

An application must make network resources available to a client commensurate with the client's access level.

Define a clear policy for network resource allocation and consumption.

An application must, at all times, keep track of network resources and meter their usage appropriately.

+ Other Notes

This can be resultant from weaknesses that simplify spoofing attacks.

+ Relationships
NatureTypeIDNameView(s) this relationship pertains toView(s)
ChildOfWeakness ClassWeakness Class405Asymmetric Resource Consumption (Amplification)
Development Concepts (primary)699
Research Concepts (primary)1000
+ Theoretical Notes

Network amplification, when performed with spoofing, is normally a multi-channel attack from attacker (acting as user) to amplifier, and amplifier to victim.

+ Taxonomy Mappings
Mapped Taxonomy NameNode IDFitMapped Node Name
PLOVERNetwork Amplification
+ Content History
Submissions
Submission DateSubmitterOrganizationSource
PLOVERExternally Mined
Modifications
Modification DateModifierOrganizationSource
2008-07-01Eric DalciCigitalExternal
updated Time of Introduction
2008-09-08CWE Content TeamMITREInternal
updated Relationships, Other Notes, Taxonomy Mappings
2008-10-14CWE Content TeamMITREInternal
updated Description, Enabling Factors for Exploitation, Name, Other Notes, Theoretical Notes
Previous Entry Names
Change DatePrevious Entry Name
2008-10-14Network Amplification
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