What is Incorrect Execution-Assigned Permissions (CWE-279)?

TL;DR: Incorrect Execution-Assigned Permissions (CWE-279) is a critical vulnerability where permissions are incorrectly set during runtime, compromising data integrity and confidentiality. Properly managing privileges ensures secure operations.

What is Incorrect Execution-Assigned Permissions?

Incorrect Execution-Assigned Permissions (CWE-279) is a type of security vulnerability where an application sets permissions during execution in a way that violates the intended security policies specified by users or administrators. As defined by the MITRE Corporation under CWE-279, this weakness can lead to unauthorized access and data tampering.

Quick Summary

Incorrect Execution-Assigned Permissions occurs when an application improperly assigns permissions at runtime, leading to potential security breaches. This vulnerability is critical because it undermines the integrity of permission-based security models, allowing attackers to manipulate sensitive resources. Understanding how to detect and mitigate this issue is essential for maintaining secure systems.

Jump to: Quick Summary · Incorrect Execution-Assigned Permissions Overview · How Incorrect Execution-Assigned Permissions Works · Business Impact of Incorrect Execution-Assigned Permissions · Incorrect Execution-Assigned Permissions Attack Scenario · How to Detect Incorrect Execution-Assigned Permissions · How to Fix Incorrect Execution-Assigned Permissions · Framework-Specific Fixes for Incorrect Execution-Assigned Permissions · How to Ask AI to Check Your Code for Incorrect Execution-Assigned Permissions · Incorrect Execution-Assigned Permissions Best Practices Checklist · Incorrect Execution-Assigned Permissions FAQ · Vulnerabilities Related to Incorrect Execution-Assigned Permissions · References · Scan Your Own Site

Incorrect Execution-Assigned Permissions Overview

What

Incorrect Execution-Assigned Permissions occurs when an application sets permissions during execution in a manner that contradicts the intended security policies.

Why it matters

This vulnerability undermines data integrity and confidentiality by allowing unauthorized access to sensitive resources. It can lead to significant business impacts such as financial loss, regulatory non-compliance, and reputational damage.

Where it occurs

It commonly affects applications with dynamic permission management during runtime execution.

Who is affected

Developers and administrators responsible for managing permissions in dynamically configured systems are most at risk.

Who is NOT affected

Systems that enforce strict static permission configurations without dynamic changes during runtime are less likely to be impacted by this vulnerability.

How Incorrect Execution-Assigned Permissions Works

Root Cause

The root cause lies in the application’s failure to correctly manage and assign permissions according to the intended security policies during execution.

Attack Flow

1. An attacker identifies a component that dynamically sets permissions.
2. The attacker manipulates inputs or configurations to trigger incorrect permission assignments.
3. Unauthorized access is granted, leading to data tampering or theft.

Prerequisites to Exploit

• Dynamic permission management mechanisms are present in the application.
• Input validation and security checks are insufficient or improperly implemented.

Vulnerable Code

def set_file_permissions(file_path):
    # Incorrectly setting permissions for all users
    os.chmod(file_path, 0o777)

This code sets file permissions to read/write/execute for everyone, violating the intended security policy.

Secure Code

def set_file_permissions(file_path):
    # Correctly setting permissions only for authorized users
    os.chmod(file_path, 0o640)

The secure version ensures that permissions are assigned according to a predefined and secure policy.

Business Impact of Incorrect Execution-Assigned Permissions

Confidentiality

Sensitive data may be exposed to unauthorized entities due to incorrect permission assignments.

Integrity

Data integrity can be compromised as attackers gain the ability to modify or delete sensitive information.

Availability

Incorrectly set permissions might lead to denial-of-service scenarios if critical resources are made inaccessible by unauthorized users.

Incorrect Execution-Assigned Permissions Attack Scenario

1. An attacker identifies a component that dynamically sets file permissions.
2. The attacker manipulates inputs to trigger incorrect permission assignments.
3. Unauthorized access is granted, leading to data tampering or theft.

How to Detect Incorrect Execution-Assigned Permissions

Manual Testing

• Review code for dynamic permission management mechanisms.
• Ensure input validation and security checks are robust and correctly implemented.

Automated Scanners (SAST / DAST)

Static analysis tools can detect potential issues in the code, while dynamic scanners can identify runtime vulnerabilities.

PenScan Detection

PenScan’s automated scanners use a combination of static and dynamic techniques to identify incorrect permission assignments during execution.

False Positive Guidance

False positives may occur if the scanner detects patterns that appear risky but are actually safe due to context-specific security measures not visible in the code alone.

How to Fix Incorrect Execution-Assigned Permissions

• Very carefully manage the setting, management, and handling of privileges.
• Explicitly manage trust zones in the software.
• Compartmentalize the system to have “safe” areas where trust boundaries can be unambiguously drawn.

Framework-Specific Fixes for Incorrect Execution-Assigned Permissions

Python/Django

def set_file_permissions(file_path):
    # Correctly setting permissions only for authorized users
    os.chmod(file_path, 0o640)

Java

public void setFilePermissions(String filePath) {
    // Correctly setting permissions only for authorized users
    Files.setPosixFilePermissions(Paths.get(filePath), PosixFilePermissions.fromString("rw-r-----"));
}

How to Ask AI to Check Your Code for Incorrect Execution-Assigned Permissions

Incorrect Execution-Assigned Permissions Best Practices Checklist

• ✅ Carefully manage the setting, management, and handling of privileges.
• ✅ Explicitly manage trust zones in the software.
• ✅ Compartmentalize the system to have “safe” areas where trust boundaries can be unambiguously drawn.

Incorrect Execution-Assigned Permissions FAQ

How does Incorrect Execution-Assigned Permissions occur?

It occurs when an application sets permissions during execution in a way that violates the intended security policy set by users or administrators.

What are the consequences of Incorrect Execution-Assigned Permissions?

This can lead to unauthorized access and modification of sensitive data, compromising confidentiality and integrity.

How does separation of privilege help prevent this vulnerability?

Separation of privilege ensures that different parts of a system operate with distinct levels of authority, reducing the risk of incorrect permission assignments.

Can you provide an example of Incorrect Execution-Assigned Permissions in code?

An application might set file permissions to read/write for all users when it should only be accessible by specific roles or users.

How can manual testing detect Incorrect Execution-Assigned Permissions?

Manual testing involves reviewing the code and configuration files to ensure that permission settings align with security policies during execution.

What automated tools can help identify this vulnerability?

Static analysis tools like SAST and dynamic scanners such as DAST can flag instances where permissions are incorrectly assigned at runtime.

How does PenScan detect Incorrect Execution-Assigned Permissions?

PenScan’s automated scanners use a combination of static and dynamic techniques to identify incorrect permission assignments during execution.

Vulnerabilities Related to Incorrect Execution-Assigned Permissions

References

• MITRE
• NVD

Scan Your Own Site

Manual code review catches what you know to look for. An automated scan catches what you didn’t. Scan your own website using PenScan to find Incorrect Execution-Assigned Permissions and other risks before an attacker does.