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CWE WEAKNESSES  /  CWE-276

CWE-276

Incorrect Default Permissions

Base EXPLOIT LIKELIHOOD: MEDIUM

What it is

During installation, installed file permissions are set to allow anyone to modify those files.

Impact

Confidentiality, IntegrityRead Application Data, Modify Application Data

Mitigations

  • [Architecture and Design, Operation] The architecture needs to access and modification attributes for files to only those users who actually require those actions.
  • [Architecture and Design]Compartmentalize the system to have "safe" areas where trust boundaries can be unambiguously drawn. Do not allow sensitive data to go outside of the trust boundary and always be careful when interfacing with a compartment outside of the safe area.Ensure that appropriate compartmentalization is built into the system design, and the compartmentalization allows for and reinforces privilege separ

Real-world CVE examples

  • CVE-2005-1941 — Executables installed world-writable.
  • CVE-2002-1713 — Home directories installed world-readable.
  • CVE-2001-1550 — World-writable log files allow information loss; world-readable file has cleartext passwords.
  • CVE-2002-1711 — World-readable directory.
  • CVE-2002-1844 — Windows product uses insecure permissions when installing on Solaris (genesis: port error).
  • CVE-2001-0497 — Insecure permissions for a shared secret key file. Overlaps cryptographic problem.
  • CVE-1999-0426 — Default permissions of a device allow IP spoofing.

Related weaknesses

Test & detect

Browse all common weaknesses, check related exploited CVEs, or map to ATT&CK techniques.

Source: MITRE CWE. View on cwe.mitre.org →

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