CWE-224: Obscured Security-relevant Information by Alternate Name

What is Obscured Security-relevant Information by Alternate Name?

• Overview: The CWE-224 vulnerability occurs when a software product records security-relevant information using an alternate name instead of the canonical name of the affected entity. This can lead to confusion and potential security oversights, as the alternate name may not be consistently recognized or monitored.

• Exploitation Methods:

• Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by using the alternate name to bypass security checks that are only applied to the canonical name.
• Common attack patterns include evading logging mechanisms or security alerts that fail to recognize the alternate name as significant.

• Security Impact:

• Direct consequences include the potential for unauthorized access or actions to go unmonitored or unreported.
• Potential cascading effects involve compromised system integrity, as security measures might be inconsistently applied.
• Business impact includes increased risk of data breaches, regulatory non-compliance, and damage to reputation.

• Prevention Guidelines:

• Specific code-level fixes involve ensuring all security-relevant information is recorded and monitored using the canonical name.
• Security best practices include implementing consistent naming conventions and performing regular audits to identify discrepancies.
• Recommended tools and frameworks include using logging libraries that support canonical name resolution and employing security information and event management (SIEM) systems to track all relevant identifiers.

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Technical Details

Likelihood of Exploit: Not specified

Affected Languages: Not Language-Specific

Affected Technologies: Not specified

Vulnerable Code Example

// Vulnerable code: Obscures security-relevant information by using alternate names
function logLoginAttempt(userId) {
    const alias = getUserAlias(userId); // Retrieves an alternate name for the user
    console.log(`Login attempt for user alias: \${alias}`); // Logs only the alias
    // Security-relevant action taken based on alias
    securityAudit(alias);
}

// Helper function to get user alias
function getUserAlias(userId) {
    // Simulating retrieval of alias
    return 'user_' + userId;
}

Explanation:

• Lines 15-17: The function logLoginAttempt uses an alternate name (alias) instead of the canonical user ID to log security-relevant information. This obscures the true identity of the user involved in the action, leading to the CWE-224 vulnerability. By relying solely on the alias, security logs and audits may lack the necessary detail to accurately trace user actions, potentially hindering forensic analysis.

How to fix Obscured Security-relevant Information by Alternate Name?

To fix this vulnerability, always log and manage security-relevant information using canonical names or identifiers. Using the canonical identifier helps to ensure the integrity of security logs and audits, as it provides a consistent and unambiguous reference to the entity involved in the security event. This approach enhances traceability and accountability, which is crucial for security auditing and forensic analysis.

Fixed Code Example

// Fixed code: Logs and manages security-relevant information using canonical identifiers
function logLoginAttempt(userId) {
    const alias = getUserAlias(userId); // Retrieves an alternate name for the user
    console.log(`Login attempt for user ID: \${userId}, alias: \${alias}`); // Logs both the user ID and alias
    // Security-relevant action now uses the canonical user ID
    securityAudit(userId);
}

// Helper function to get user alias
function getUserAlias(userId) {
    // Simulating retrieval of alias
    return 'user_' + userId;
}

Explanation:

• Line 16: The logging now includes both the canonical user ID and the alias, preserving the true identity of the user in security logs. This ensures that logs contain all necessary information for accurate user tracking.
• Line 19: The securityAudit function now uses the canonical user ID, ensuring that internal security actions are based on the true identifier. This change adheres to best practices for security-relevant information management by maintaining a consistent and accurate reference to the user involved in the action.