Incorrect Ownership Assignment
Weakness ID: 708 (Weakness Base)Status: Incomplete
+ Description

Description Summary

The software assigns an owner to a resource, but the owner is outside of the intended control sphere.

Extended Description

This may allow the resource to be manipulated by actors outside of the intended control sphere.

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

Languages

All

+ Observed Examples
ReferenceDescription
CVE-2007-5101File system sets wrong ownership and group when creating a new file.
CVE-2007-4238OS installs program with bin owner/group, allowing modification.
CVE-2007-1716Manager does not properly restore ownership of a reusable resource when a user logs out, allowing privilege escalation.
CVE-2005-3148Backup software restores symbolic links with incorrect uid/gid.
CVE-2005-1064Product changes the ownership of files that a symlink points to, instead of the symlink itself.
+ Potential Mitigations

Periodically review the privileges and their owners.

Use automated tools to check for privilege settings.

+ Other Notes

This overlaps verification errors, permissions, and privileges.

A closely related weakness is the incorrect assignment of groups to a resource. It is not clear whether it would fall under this entry or require a different entry.

+ Relationships
NatureTypeIDNameView(s) this relationship pertains toView(s)
ChildOfWeakness ClassWeakness Class282Improper Ownership Management
Development Concepts (primary)699
Research Concepts (primary)1000
ChildOfCategoryCategory723OWASP Top Ten 2004 Category A2 - Broken Access Control
Weaknesses in OWASP Top Ten (2004) (primary)711
CanAlsoBeWeakness ClassWeakness Class345Insufficient Verification of Data Authenticity
Research Concepts1000
+ Content History
Submissions
Submission DateSubmitterOrganizationSource
2008-09-09MITREInternal CWE Team
Modifications
Modification DateModifierOrganizationSource
2008-07-01Eric DalciCigitalExternal
updated Potential Mitigations, Time of Introduction
2009-03-10CWE Content TeamMITREInternal
updated Relationships
2009-05-27CWE Content TeamMITREInternal
updated Description
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