CWE-1234 Detail

CWE-1234

Hardware Internal or Debug Modes Allow Override of Locks
Incomplete
2020-02-24
00h00 +00:00
2024-02-29
00h00 +00:00
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Name: Hardware Internal or Debug Modes Allow Override of Locks

System configuration protection may be bypassed during debug mode.

CWE Description

Device configuration controls are commonly programmed after a device power reset by a trusted firmware or software module (e.g., BIOS/bootloader) and then locked from any further modification. This is commonly implemented using a trusted lock bit, which when set, disables writes to a protected set of registers or address regions. The lock protection is intended to prevent modification of certain system configuration (e.g., memory/memory protection unit configuration). If debug features supported by hardware or internal modes/system states are supported in the hardware design, modification of the lock protection may be allowed allowing access and modification of configuration information.

General Informations

Modes Of Introduction

Architecture and Design
Implementation

Applicable Platforms

Language

Class: Not Language-Specific (Undetermined)

Operating Systems

Class: Not OS-Specific (Undetermined)

Architectures

Class: Not Architecture-Specific (Undetermined)

Technologies

Class: Not Technology-Specific (Undetermined)

Common Consequences

Scope Impact Likelihood
Access ControlBypass Protection Mechanism

Note: Bypass of lock bit allows access and modification of system configuration even when the lock bit is set.		High

Potential Mitigations

Phases : Architecture and Design // Implementation // Testing
  • Security Lock bit protections should be reviewed for any bypass/override modes supported.
  • Any supported override modes either should be removed or protected using authenticated debug modes.
  • Security lock programming flow and lock properties should be tested in pre-silicon and post-silicon testing.

Vulnerability Mapping Notes

Justification : 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.
Comment : 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.

Related Attack Patterns

CAPEC-ID Attack Pattern Name
CAPEC-176 Configuration/Environment Manipulation
An attacker manipulates files or settings external to a target application which affect the behavior of that application. For example, many applications use external configuration files and libraries - modification of these entities or otherwise affecting the application's ability to use them would constitute a configuration/environment manipulation attack.

References

REF-1375

reglk_wrapper.sv
https://github.com/HACK-EVENT/hackatdac21/blob/cde1d9d6888bffab21d4b405ccef61b19c58dd3c/piton/design/chip/tile/ariane/src/reglk/reglk_wrapper.sv#L80C1-L80C48

REF-1376

Fix for reglk_wrapper.sv
https://github.com/HACK-EVENT/hackatdac21/blob/20238068b385d7ab704cabfb95ff95dd6e56e1c2/piton/design/chip/tile/ariane/src/reglk/reglk_wrapper.sv#L80

Submission

Name Organization Date Date release Version
Arun Kanuparthi, Hareesh Khattri, Parbati Kumar Manna, Narasimha Kumar V Mangipudi Intel Corporation 2020-01-15 +00:00 2020-02-24 +00:00 4.0

Modifications

Name Organization Date Comment
CWE Content Team MITRE 2020-08-20 +00:00 updated Common_Consequences, Demonstrative_Examples, Description, Modes_of_Introduction, Potential_Mitigations, Related_Attack_Patterns
CWE Content Team MITRE 2022-04-28 +00:00 updated Related_Attack_Patterns
CWE Content Team MITRE 2022-10-13 +00:00 updated Demonstrative_Examples
CWE Content Team MITRE 2023-04-27 +00:00 updated Relationships
CWE Content Team MITRE 2023-06-29 +00:00 updated Mapping_Notes
CWE Content Team MITRE 2024-02-29 +00:00 updated Demonstrative_Examples, References