VulnScan

CWE-74: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component ('Injection')

What is CWE-74?

MITRE CWE

The product constructs all or part of a command, data structure, or record using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify how it is parsed or interpreted when it is sent to a downstream component.

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Official definition

MITRE CWE

The product constructs all or part of a command, data structure, or record using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify how it is parsed or interpreted when it is sent to a downstream component.

Detailed description

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Characteristics

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Modes of introduction

  • Implementation: REALIZATION: This weakness is caused during implementation of an architectural security tactic.

Common consequences

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  • Confidentiality

    Read Application Data

    Many injection attacks involve the disclosure of important information -- in terms of both data sensitivity and usefulness in further exploitation.

  • Access Control

    Bypass Protection Mechanism

    In some cases, injectable code controls authentication; this may lead to a remote vulnerability.

  • Other

    Alter Execution Logic

    Injection attacks are characterized by the ability to significantly change the flow of a given process, and in some cases, to the execution of arbitrary code.

  • Integrity, Other

    Other

    Data injection attacks lead to loss of data integrity in nearly all cases as the control-plane data injected is always incidental to data recall or writing.

  • Non-Repudiation

    Hide Activities

    Often the actions performed by injected control code are unlogged.

Mitigations

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  • RequirementsProgramming languages and supporting technologies might be chosen which are not subject to these issues.
  • ImplementationUtilize an appropriate mix of allowlist and denylist parsing to filter control-plane syntax from all input.

Detection methods

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  • Automated Static AnalysisAutomated static analysis, commonly referred to as Static Application Security Testing (SAST), can find some instances of this weakness by analyzing source code (or binary/compiled code) without having to execute it. Typically, this is done by building a model of data flow and control flow, then searching for potentially-vulnerable patterns that connect "sources" (origins of input) with "sinks" (destinations where the data interacts with external components, a lower layer such as the OS, etc.)Effectiveness: High

Representative vulnerabilities

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These examples illustrate this CWE entry and are not an exhaustive list of related vulnerabilities.

  • CVE-2024-5184API service using a large generative AI model allows direct prompt injection to leak hard-coded system prompts or execute other prompts.
  • CVE-2022-36069Python-based dependency management tool avoids OS command injection when generating Git commands but allows injection of optional arguments with input beginning with a dash (CWE-88), potentially allowing for code execution.
  • CVE-1999-0067Canonical example of OS command injection. CGI program does not neutralize "|" metacharacter when invoking a phonebook program.
  • CVE-2022-1509injection of sed script syntax ("sed injection")
  • CVE-2020-9054Chain: improper input validation (CWE-20) in username parameter, leading to OS command injection (CWE-78), as exploited in the wild per CISA KEV.
  • CVE-2021-44228Product does not neutralize ${xyz} style expressions, allowing remote code execution. (log4shell vulnerability)

Sources and references

References

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