A process does not close sensitive file descriptors before invoking a child process, which allows the child to perform unauthorized I/O operations using those descriptors.
When a new process is forked or executed, the child process inherits any open file descriptors. When the child process has fewer privileges than the parent process, this might introduce a vulnerability if the child process can access the file descriptor but does not have the privileges to access the associated file.
While this issue is frequently called a file descriptor leak, the "leak" term is often used in two different ways - exposure of a resource, or consumption of a resource. Use of this term could cause confusion.
| Nature | Mapping | Type | ID | Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ChildOf | Allowed-with-Review | C | 402 | Transmission of Private Resources into a New Sphere ('Resource Leak') |
| Nature | Mapping | Type | ID | Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MemberOf | Prohibited | C | 399 | Resource Management Errors |
| MemberOf | Prohibited | C | 743 | CERT C Secure Coding Standard (2008) Chapter 10 - Input Output (FIO) |
| MemberOf | Prohibited | C | 877 | CERT C++ Secure Coding Section 09 - Input Output (FIO) |
| MemberOf | Prohibited | C | 963 | SFP Secondary Cluster: Exposed Data |
| MemberOf | Prohibited | C | 1011 | Authorize Actors |
| MemberOf | Prohibited | C | 1403 | Comprehensive Categorization: Exposed Resource |
| Nature | Mapping | Type | ID | Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MemberOf | Prohibited | BS | BOSS-294 | Not Language-Specific Weaknesses |
| MemberOf | Prohibited | BS | BOSS-297 | Unix(os class) Weaknesses |
| MemberOf | Prohibited | BS | BOSS-318 | Modify Application Data (impact) |
| MemberOf | Prohibited | BS | BOSS-328 | Read Application Data (impact) |
| Nature | Mapping | Type | ID | Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MemberOf | Prohibited | C | 1011 | Authorize Actors |
| Nature | Mapping | Type | ID | Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MemberOf | Prohibited | C | 399 | Resource Management Errors |
| Nature | Mapping | Type | ID | Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MemberOf | Prohibited | C | 963 | SFP Secondary Cluster: Exposed Data |
| Scope | Likelihood | Impact | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| ConfidentialityIntegrity | N/A | Read Application DataModify Application Data | N/A |
REALIZATION: This weakness is caused during implementation of an architectural security tactic.
| Reference | Description |
|---|---|
| CVE-2003-0740 | Server leaks a privileged file descriptor, allowing the server to be hijacked. |
| CVE-2004-1033 | File descriptor leak allows read of restricted files. |
| CVE-2000-0094 | Access to restricted resource using modified file descriptor for stderr. |
| CVE-2002-0638 | Open file descriptor used as alternate channel in complex race condition. |
| CVE-2003-0489 | Program does not fully drop privileges after creating a file descriptor, which allows access to the descriptor via a separate vulnerability. |
| CVE-2003-0937 | User bypasses restrictions by obtaining a file descriptor then calling setuid program, which does not close the descriptor. |
| CVE-2004-2215 | Terminal manager does not properly close file descriptors, allowing attackers to access terminals of other users. |
| CVE-2006-5397 | Module opens a file for reading twice, allowing attackers to read files. |
| Ordinality | Description |
|---|
This CWE entry is at the Base level of abstraction, which is a preferred level of abstraction for mapping to the root causes of vulnerabilities.
Carefully read both the name and description to ensure that this mapping is an appropriate fit. Do not try to 'force' a mapping to a lower-level Base/Variant simply to comply with this preferred level of abstraction.
| Taxonomy Name | Entry ID | Fit | Entry Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| PLOVER | N/A | N/A | UNIX file descriptor leak |
| CERT C Secure Coding | FIO42-C | N/A | Ensure files are properly closed when they are no longer needed |
| Software Fault Patterns | SFP23 | N/A | Exposed Data |
| ID | Name |
|---|