CWE-357: Insufficient UI Warning of Dangerous Operations

What is Insufficient UI Warning of Dangerous Operations?

• Overview: Insufficient UI Warning of Dangerous Operations (CWE-357) is a vulnerability where the user interface provides a warning about a dangerous or sensitive operation, but the warning is not noticeable enough to effectively alert the user.

• Exploitation Methods:

• Attackers can exploit this by tricking users into performing dangerous operations without adequate warning.
• Common attack patterns include phishing tactics where users are led to execute unwanted actions due to subtle or ineffective warnings.

• Security Impact:

• Direct consequences include unauthorized actions performed by users who are misled by inadequate warnings.
• Potential cascading effects involve system compromises as users may inadvertently grant permissions or execute harmful commands.
• Business impact can be significant, leading to data loss, reputational damage, or financial losses due to unauthorized operations.

• Prevention Guidelines:

• Specific code-level fixes include implementing clear, prominent, and unambiguous warnings for any dangerous operations.
• Security best practices involve user interface design that emphasizes critical warnings using colors, icons, or modal dialogs to capture user attention.
• Recommended tools and frameworks include UI/UX testing tools that help evaluate the effectiveness of warning messages and ensure they meet accessibility standards.

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Technical Details

Likelihood of Exploit: Not specified

Affected Languages: Not Language-Specific

Affected Technologies: Not specified

Vulnerable Code Example

// Function to delete a user's account with minimal warning
function deleteUserAccount(userId) {
    // Display a basic and easily missable confirmation dialog
    if (confirm("Are you sure you want to delete your account?")) {
        // Proceed with account deletion
        console.log(`User account \${userId} deleted.`);
    }
}

Explanation:

• The confirm dialog used here is easily dismissible and does not sufficiently convey the severity of the operation (account deletion) to the user. This is a classic example of CWE-357, where the UI warning is insufficient and may lead to accidental execution of dangerous operations. The use of a simple confirm dialog does not adequately inform the user of the irreversible nature of the action.

How to fix Insufficient UI Warning of Dangerous Operations?

To fix this vulnerability, the following best practices should be implemented:

1. Enhanced User Interface: Use a more prominent and clear UI element for warnings, such as a modal dialog with detailed information about the operation.
2. Explicit User Action: Require explicit user acknowledgment, such as typing "DELETE" or a password, to proceed with the operation.
3. Visual Indicators: Use color coding or icons to signify danger and ensure the warning stands out.

Fixed Code Example

// Enhanced function to delete a user's account with a prominent warning
function deleteUserAccount(userId) {
    // Create a modal with clear warning messages
    const modal = document.createElement('div');
    modal.innerHTML = `
        <div class="modal-overlay">
            <div class="modal-content">
                <h2 style="color: red;">Warning!</h2>
                <p>You are about to delete your account. This action is irreversible.</p>
                <p>Please type "DELETE" to confirm:</p>
                <input type="text" id="confirmInput" placeholder="Type DELETE">
                <button id="confirmButton">Confirm</button>
                <button id="cancelButton">Cancel</button>
            </div>
        </div>
    `;
    document.body.appendChild(modal);

    // Add event listeners for the confirm and cancel buttons
    document.getElementById('confirmButton').addEventListener('click', () => {
        const userInput = document.getElementById('confirmInput').value;
        if (userInput === "DELETE") {
            // Proceed with account deletion
            console.log(`User account \${userId} deleted.`);
            document.body.removeChild(modal);
        } else {
            alert("Confirmation text incorrect. Account not deleted.");
        }
    });

    document.getElementById('cancelButton').addEventListener('click', () => {
        document.body.removeChild(modal);
    });
}

Explanation:

• A modal dialog is used instead of a simple confirm dialog, providing a more prominent warning.
• The user must type "DELETE" to confirm the operation, which prevents accidental deletions by requiring explicit user acknowledgment.
• The modal includes clear messaging, uses color to indicate danger, and requires explicit user acknowledgment before proceeding, effectively mitigating CWE-357.