CWE-1323: Improper Management of Sensitive Trace Data

What is Improper Management of Sensitive Trace Data?

• Overview: The vulnerability CWE-1323 refers to the improper management of sensitive trace data from System-on-Chip (SoC) components, where such data is stored in unprotected locations or shared with untrusted entities, potentially exposing sensitive information.

• Exploitation Methods:

• Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by accessing unprotected memory locations where trace data is stored.
• Common attack patterns include using untrusted software debuggers to read trace data and employing untrusted hardware debuggers to extract confidential information.

• Security Impact:

• Direct consequences of successful exploitation include unauthorized access to sensitive data from SoC components like CPUs and crypto coprocessors.
• Potential cascading effects involve data leaks that could compromise the entire system's security and lead to further attacks.
• Business impact includes loss of intellectual property, breach of privacy regulations, and potential financial losses due to data breaches.

• Prevention Guidelines:

• Specific code-level fixes include implementing access controls to ensure only authorized entities can access trace data.
• Security best practices involve encrypting trace data both in transit and at rest, and tagging security-sensitive traces as secure to prevent unauthorized access.
• Recommended tools and frameworks include using secure trace collection and storage solutions, leveraging hardware-based security features, and employing robust authentication and authorization measures for debugging interfaces.

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Technical Details

Likelihood of Exploit: Not specified

Affected Languages: Not Language-Specific

Affected Technologies: System on Chip

Vulnerable Code Example

import logging

# This logger writes trace data to a file without any protection
def log_trace_data(trace_data):
    # Sensitive trace data is written directly to a log file
    logging.basicConfig(filename='trace.log', level=logging.DEBUG)
    logging.debug(trace_data)  # Trace data is stored in an unprotected log file

Explanation

In the vulnerable code example above, sensitive trace data is logged directly to a file without any form of protection. This poses a security risk because if the log file is accessed by unauthorized individuals, they can easily read the sensitive information. Additionally, the log file is not protected by any access controls or encryption, making it vulnerable to unauthorized access and data breaches.

How to fix Improper Management of Sensitive Trace Data?

Fixed Code Example

import logging
from cryptography.fernet import Fernet
import os

# Generate a key for encryption and store it securely
key = Fernet.generate_key()
cipher_suite = Fernet(key)

def log_trace_data(trace_data):
    # Encrypt the trace data before logging
    encrypted_data = cipher_suite.encrypt(trace_data.encode('utf-8'))

    # Secure logging configuration with file access restrictions
    logging.basicConfig(filename='trace.log', level=logging.DEBUG, filemode='a')
    # Ensure the log file has restricted permissions
    os.chmod('trace.log', 0o600)

    # Log only the encrypted data
    logging.debug(encrypted_data)  # Sensitive trace data is encrypted before logging

Explanation

In the fixed code example, sensitive trace data is encrypted using the cryptography library before being logged. This ensures that even if the log file is accessed by an unauthorized user, the data remains protected. Additionally, the log file permissions are set to be readable and writable only by the file owner, reducing the risk of unauthorized access. The encryption key should be securely stored and managed, possibly outside the application code, to prevent it from being compromised.