What is Integer Coercion Error (CWE-192)?

TL;DR: Integer Coercion Error (CWE-192) occurs when a language fails to correctly handle integer data types, leading to potential security vulnerabilities.

At-a-Glance

What is Integer Coercion Error?

Integer Coercion Error (CWE-192) is a type of vulnerability that occurs when a language fails to correctly handle integer data types. As defined by the MITRE Corporation under CWE-192, and classified by the OWASP Foundation as not directly mapped.

Quick Summary

Integer Coercion Error can lead to potential security vulnerabilities, including DoS: Resource Consumption (CPU), DoS: Resource Consumption (Memory), and DoS: Crash, Exit, or Restart. This occurs when a language fails to correctly handle integer data types.

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

Integer Coercion Error Overview

What: Integer Coercion Error (CWE-192) is a type of vulnerability that occurs when a language fails to correctly handle integer data types.

Why it matters: This can lead to potential security vulnerabilities, including DoS: Resource Consumption (CPU), DoS: Resource Consumption (Memory), and DoS: Crash, Exit, or Restart.

Where it occurs: Integer Coercion Error can occur in any language that fails to correctly handle integer data types.

Who is affected: Any application that uses a language with incorrect handling of integer data types is affected.

Who is NOT affected: Applications that never construct paths/queries/commands from external input are not affected.

How Integer Coercion Error Works

Root Cause

Integer Coercion Error occurs when a language fails to correctly handle integer data types.

Attack Flow

1. The attacker provides input with incorrect handling of integer data types.
2. The application processes the input, leading to potential security vulnerabilities.

Prerequisites to Exploit

• The attacker must provide input with incorrect handling of integer data types.
• The application must process the input without correctly handling integer data types.

Vulnerable Code

int x = 5;
char *y = (char *)x;

This code is vulnerable because it incorrectly handles the integer data type x.

Secure Code

int x = 5;
char *y = malloc(sizeof(char) * 10);
strcpy(y, "Hello");
free(y);

This code is secure because it correctly handles the integer data type x and uses proper memory management.

Business Impact of Integer Coercion Error

Confidentiality

Integer Coercion Error can lead to potential security vulnerabilities, including DoS: Resource Consumption (CPU), DoS: Resource Consumption (Memory), and DoS: Crash, Exit, or Restart. This can result in the exposure of sensitive data.

• Financial impact: Integer Coercion Error can lead to financial losses due to downtime and resource consumption.
• Compliance impact: Integer Coercion Error can lead to compliance issues due to potential security vulnerabilities.
• Reputation impact: Integer Coercion Error can lead to reputation damage due to potential security vulnerabilities.

Integrity

Integer Coercion Error can lead to potential security vulnerabilities, including DoS: Resource Consumption (CPU), DoS: Resource Consumption (Memory), and DoS: Crash, Exit, or Restart. This can result in the modification of sensitive data.

• Financial impact: Integer Coercion Error can lead to financial losses due to downtime and resource consumption.
• Compliance impact: Integer Coercion Error can lead to compliance issues due to potential security vulnerabilities.
• Reputation impact: Integer Coercion Error can lead to reputation damage due to potential security vulnerabilities.

Availability

Integer Coercion Error can lead to potential security vulnerabilities, including DoS: Resource Consumption (CPU), DoS: Resource Consumption (Memory), and DoS: Crash, Exit, or Restart. This can result in the disruption of services.

• Financial impact: Integer Coercion Error can lead to financial losses due to downtime.
• Compliance impact: Integer Coercion Error can lead to compliance issues due to potential security vulnerabilities.
• Reputation impact: Integer Coercion Error can lead to reputation damage due to potential security vulnerabilities.

Integer Coercion Error Attack Scenario

1. The attacker provides input with incorrect handling of integer data types.
2. The application processes the input, leading to potential security vulnerabilities.
3. The attacker exploits the vulnerability, resulting in DoS: Resource Consumption (CPU), DoS: Resource Consumption (Memory), or DoS: Crash, Exit, or Restart.

How to Detect Integer Coercion Error

Manual Testing

• Review code for incorrect handling of integer data types.
• Test application with input that may trigger the vulnerability.

Automated Scanners (SAST / DAST)

• Use automated scanners to detect potential security vulnerabilities.
• Note that static analysis may not catch all instances of Integer Coercion Error, as it requires dynamic/runtime testing to find.

PenScan Detection

PenScan’s scanner engines actively test for this issue.

False Positive Guidance

• Be cautious when reviewing findings, as some patterns may look risky but are actually safe due to context a scanner can’t see.
• Verify the finding is not a false alarm before taking action.

How to Fix Integer Coercion Error

• Design objects and program flow such that multiple or complex casts are unnecessary.
• Use language that throws exceptions on ambiguous data casts.
• Ensure that any data type casting that you must use is entirely understood in order to reduce the plausibility of error in use.

Framework-Specific Fixes for Integer Coercion Error

Java

int x = 5;
char[] y = new char[10];
System.arraycopy("Hello", 0, y, 0, 10);

This code is secure because it correctly handles the integer data type x and uses proper memory management.

Node.js

const x = 5;
let y = Buffer.alloc(10);
y.write('Hello', 0, 'utf8');

This code is secure because it correctly handles the integer data type x and uses proper memory management.

Python/Django

x = 5
y = bytearray(10)
y.extend(b'Hello')

This code is secure because it correctly handles the integer data type x and uses proper memory management.

PHP

$x = 5;
$y = str_repeat('Hello', 10);

This code is secure because it correctly handles the integer data type $x and uses proper memory management.

How to Ask AI to Check Your Code for Integer Coercion Error

You can ask AI to review your code block for potential CWE-192 Integer Coercion Error vulnerabilities and rewrite it using the primary fix technique.

Integer Coercion Error Best Practices Checklist

✅ Design objects and program flow such that multiple or complex casts are unnecessary. ✅ Use language that throws exceptions on ambiguous data casts. ✅ Ensure that any data type casting that you must use is entirely understood in order to reduce the plausibility of error in use.

Integer Coercion Error FAQ

How does Integer Coercion Error occur?

Integer Coercion Error occurs when a language fails to correctly handle integer data types, leading to potential security vulnerabilities.

What are the common consequences of Integer Coercion Error?

The common consequences of Integer Coercion Error include DoS: Resource Consumption (CPU), DoS: Resource Consumption (Memory), and DoS: Crash, Exit, or Restart.

How can I prevent Integer Coercion Error?

To prevent Integer Coercion Error, it is recommended to design objects and program flow such that multiple or complex casts are unnecessary.

What are the related weaknesses of Integer Coercion Error?

The related weakness of Integer Coercion Error is CWE-681: Incorrect Conversion between Numeric Types (ChildOf).

How can I detect Integer Coercion Error?

To detect Integer Coercion Error, you can use manual testing and automated scanners.

What are the framework-specific fixes for Integer Coercion Error?

The framework-specific fixes for Integer Coercion Error include using language that throws exceptions on ambiguous data casts and designing objects and program flow such that multiple or complex casts are unnecessary.

How can I ask AI to check my code for Integer Coercion Error?

You can ask AI to review your code block for potential CWE-192 Integer Coercion Error vulnerabilities and rewrite it using the primary fix technique.

Vulnerabilities Related to Integer Coercion Error

References

• MITRE: CWE-192
• NVD: Integer Coercion Error

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 Integer Coercion Error and other risks before an attacker does.