DetailedSeverity: Very HighCAPEC-76

CAPEC-76: Manipulating Web Input to File System Calls

Description

An attacker manipulates inputs to the target software which the target software passes to file system calls in the OS. The goal is to gain access to, and perhaps modify, areas of the file system that the target software did not intend to be accessible.

Likelihood of attack: High
Typical severity: Very High
Abstraction: DetailedA low-level, detailed pattern, often for a particular technology.

Mechanism of attack: Manipulate Data Structures

Prerequisites

Program must allow for user controlled variables to be applied directly to the filesystem

Skills required

LowTo identify file system entry point and execute against an over-privileged system interface

Consequences

ConfidentialityAccess ControlAuthorization
Gain Privileges
Integrity
Modify Data

Mitigations

Design: Enforce principle of least privilege.
Design: Ensure all input is validated, and does not contain file system commands
Design: Run server interfaces with a non-root account and/or utilize chroot jails or other configuration techniques to constrain privileges even if attacker gains some limited access to commands.
Design: For interactive user applications, consider if direct file system interface is necessary, instead consider having the application proxy communication.
Implementation: Perform testing such as pen-testing and vulnerability scanning to identify directories, programs, and interfaces that grant direct access to executables.

Related weaknesses (CWE)

Related attack patterns

Parent

CAPEC-126Path TraversalStandard

Mitigations

Design: Enforce principle of least privilege.

Design: Ensure all input is validated, and does not contain file system commands

Design: Run server interfaces with a non-root account and/or utilize chroot jails or other configuration techniques to constrain privileges even if attacker gains some limited access to commands.

Design: For interactive user applications, consider if direct file system interface is necessary, instead consider having the application proxy communication.

Implementation: Perform testing such as pen-testing and vulnerability scanning to identify directories, programs, and interfaces that grant direct access to executables.