CWE-1244: Internal Asset Exposed to Unsafe Debug Access Level or State

What is Internal Asset Exposed to Unsafe Debug Access Level or State?

• Overview: Internal Asset Exposed to Unsafe Debug Access Level or State occurs when a product improperly assigns debug access levels to internal assets, allowing unintended access from untrusted debug agents. This issue arises when the system fails to enforce the correct debug access level during various boot stages or system states.

• Exploitation Methods:

• Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by gaining unauthorized debug access to internal assets due to incorrect access level assignment.
• Common attack patterns include using debug tools to bypass authentication mechanisms and accessing sensitive system data during specific boot stages.

• Security Impact:

• Direct consequences of successful exploitation include unauthorized access to sensitive information and system control.
• Potential cascading effects may involve further exploitation of system vulnerabilities and access to other protected assets.
• Business impact could include data breaches, loss of intellectual property, and damage to company reputation.

• Prevention Guidelines:

• Specific code-level fixes involve ensuring that debug access levels are correctly assigned and verified at each boot stage and system state transition.
• Security best practices include implementing strict access controls and authentication mechanisms for debug interfaces.
• Recommended tools and frameworks should be used to monitor and enforce access level policies and to regularly audit and test the system for vulnerabilities related to debug access.

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Technical Details

Likelihood of Exploit: Not specified

Affected Languages: Not Language-Specific

Affected Technologies: System on Chip

Vulnerable Code Example

class DebugInterface:
    def __init__(self):
        self._internal_asset = "SensitiveConfigData"

    # Debug method that exposes internal asset at an unsafe access level
    def get_debug_info(self, debug_level):
        if debug_level >= 1:  # Vulnerable: Allows unintended access
            return self._internal_asset
        return "No access"

Explanation:

• The get_debug_info method allows access to _internal_asset based on a debug level check.
• The condition if debug_level >= 1 is too permissive, meaning any debug level of 1 or higher can access sensitive data.
• This can lead to unauthorized access if the debug level is not strictly controlled, exposing sensitive data to untrusted parties.

How to fix Internal Asset Exposed to Unsafe Debug Access Level or State?

To fix this vulnerability, you should:

1. Implement Strict Access Control: Use a more secure method to determine debug access, such as checking against a list of authorized debug levels or tokens.
2. Separate Debug and Production Logic: Ensure that debug features cannot be accessed in production environments.
3. Use Environment Variables: Control debug access using secure flags or environment variables.

Fixed Code Example

import os

class DebugInterface:
    def __init__(self):
        self._internal_asset = "SensitiveConfigData"

    # Secure debug method with proper access control
    def get_debug_info(self, debug_level):
        # Only allow access in a controlled debug environment
        if os.getenv('ALLOW_DEBUG_ACCESS') == 'true' and debug_level == 2:  # Fixed: More secure access control
            return self._internal_asset
        return "No access"

Explanation:

• The fixed code uses an environment variable ALLOW_DEBUG_ACCESS to control whether debug access is allowed.
• Access to _internal_asset is restricted to a specific debug level (debug_level == 2), ensuring that only authorized and controlled conditions permit access.
• This approach reduces the risk of exposing sensitive data by ensuring that debug access is tightly controlled and only available under secure conditions, such as during development or in a secure testing environment.
• By using environment variables, you can easily toggle debug access without changing the code, providing flexibility and security.