CWE-1246 Detail

CWE-1246

Improper Write Handling in Limited-write Non-Volatile Memories
Incomplete
2020-02-24 00:00 +00:00
2023-06-29 00:00 +00:00

Alerte pour un CWE

Stay informed of any changes for a specific CWE.
Alert management

Improper Write Handling in Limited-write Non-Volatile Memories

The product does not implement or incorrectly implements wear leveling operations in limited-write non-volatile memories.

Extended Description

Non-volatile memories such as NAND Flash, EEPROM, etc. have individually erasable segments, each of which can be put through a limited number of program/erase or write cycles. For example, the device can only endure a limited number of writes, after which the device becomes unreliable. In order to wear out the cells in a uniform manner, non-volatile memory and storage products based on the above-mentioned technologies implement a technique called wear leveling. Once a set threshold is reached, wear leveling maps writes of a logical block to a different physical block. This prevents a single physical block from prematurely failing due to a high concentration of writes. If wear leveling is improperly implemented, attackers may be able to programmatically cause the storage to become unreliable within a much shorter time than would normally be expected.

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: System on Chip (Undetermined)
Name: Memory Hardware (Undetermined)
Name: Storage Hardware (Undetermined)

Common Consequences

Scope Impact Likelihood
AvailabilityDoS: Instability

Potential Mitigations

Phases : Architecture and Design // Implementation // Testing
Include secure wear leveling algorithms and ensure they may not be bypassed.

Vulnerability Mapping Notes

Rationale : 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.
Comments : 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-212 Functionality Misuse
An adversary leverages a legitimate capability of an application in such a way as to achieve a negative technical impact. The system functionality is not altered or modified but used in a way that was not intended. This is often accomplished through the overuse of a specific functionality or by leveraging functionality with design flaws that enables the adversary to gain access to unauthorized, sensitive data.

References

REF-1058

Enhancing Lifetime and Security of PCM-Based Main Memory with Start-Gap Wear Leveling
Moinuddin Qureshi, Michele Franchescini, Vijayalakshmi Srinivasan, Luis Lastras, Bulent Abali, John Karidis.
https://researcher.watson.ibm.com/researcher/files/us-moinqureshi/papers-sgap.pdf

REF-1059

Bad Block Management in NAND Flash Memory
Micron.
https://www.micron.com/-/media/client/global/documents/products/technical-note/nand-flash/tn2959_bbm_in_nand_flash.pdf

Submission

Name Organization Date Date Release Version
Arun Kanuparthi, Hareesh Khattri, Parbati Kumar Manna, Narasimha Kumar V Mangipudi Intel Corporation 2020-02-10 +00:00 2020-02-24 +00:00 4.0

Modifications

Name Organization Date Comment
CWE Content Team MITRE 2020-08-20 +00:00 updated Demonstrative_Examples, Description, Potential_Mitigations, Research_Gaps
CWE Content Team MITRE 2021-07-20 +00:00 updated Related_Attack_Patterns
CWE Content Team MITRE 2022-04-28 +00:00 updated Applicable_Platforms
CWE Content Team MITRE 2022-06-28 +00:00 updated Applicable_Platforms
CWE Content Team MITRE 2022-10-13 +00:00 updated Demonstrative_Examples, Relationships, Research_Gaps
CWE Content Team MITRE 2023-04-27 +00:00 updated References, Relationships, Taxonomy_Mappings
CWE Content Team MITRE 2023-06-29 +00:00 updated Mapping_Notes
Click on the button to the left (OFF), to authorize the inscription of cookie improving the functionalities of the site. Click on the button to the left (Accept all), to unauthorize the inscription of cookie improving the functionalities of the site.