CWE-69 Detail

CWE-69

Improper Handling of Windows ::DATA Alternate Data Stream
Incomplete
2006-07-19
00h00 +00:00
2023-06-29
00h00 +00:00
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Name: Improper Handling of Windows ::DATA Alternate Data Stream

The product does not properly prevent access to, or detect usage of, alternate data streams (ADS).

CWE Description

An attacker can use an ADS to hide information about a file (e.g. size, the name of the process) from a system or file browser tools such as Windows Explorer and 'dir' at the command line utility. Alternately, the attacker might be able to bypass intended access restrictions for the associated data fork.

General Informations

Background Details

Alternate data streams (ADS) were first implemented in the Windows NT operating system to provide compatibility between NTFS and the Macintosh Hierarchical File System (HFS). In HFS, data and resource forks are used to store information about a file. The data fork provides information about the contents of the file while the resource fork stores metadata such as file type.

Modes Of Introduction

Implementation

Applicable Platforms

Language

Class: Not Language-Specific (Undetermined)

Operating Systems

Class: Windows (Undetermined)

Common Consequences

Scope Impact Likelihood
Access Control
Non-Repudiation
Other		Bypass Protection Mechanism, Hide Activities, Other

Observed Examples

References Description

CVE-1999-0278

In IIS, remote attackers can obtain source code for ASP files by appending "::$DATA" to the URL.

CVE-2000-0927

Product does not properly record file sizes if they are stored in alternative data streams, which allows users to bypass quota restrictions.

Potential Mitigations

Phases : Testing
Software tools are capable of finding ADSs on your system.
Phases : Implementation
Ensure that the source code correctly parses the filename to read or write to the correct stream.

Vulnerability Mapping Notes

Justification : This CWE entry is at the Variant 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-168 Windows ::DATA Alternate Data Stream
An attacker exploits the functionality of Microsoft NTFS Alternate Data Streams (ADS) to undermine system security. ADS allows multiple "files" to be stored in one directory entry referenced as filename:streamname. One or more alternate data streams may be stored in any file or directory. Normal Microsoft utilities do not show the presence of an ADS stream attached to a file. The additional space for the ADS is not recorded in the displayed file size. The additional space for ADS is accounted for in the used space on the volume. An ADS can be any type of file. ADS are copied by standard Microsoft utilities between NTFS volumes. ADS can be used by an attacker or intruder to hide tools, scripts, and data from detection by normal system utilities. Many anti-virus programs do not check for or scan ADS. Windows Vista does have a switch (-R) on the command line DIR command that will display alternate streams.

NotesNotes

This and similar problems exist because the same resource can have multiple identifiers that dictate which behavior can be performed on the resource.

References

REF-562

Windows NTFS Alternate Data Streams
Don Parker.
https://seclists.org/basics/2005/Feb/312

REF-7

Writing Secure Code
Michael Howard, David LeBlanc.
https://www.microsoftpressstore.com/store/writing-secure-code-9780735617223

Submission

Name Organization Date Date release Version
PLOVER 2006-07-19 +00:00 2006-07-19 +00:00 Draft 3

Modifications

Name Organization Date Comment
Eric Dalci Cigital 2008-07-01 +00:00 updated Time_of_Introduction
CWE Content Team MITRE 2008-09-08 +00:00 updated Applicable_Platforms, Background_Details, Description, Relationships, Other_Notes, References, Taxonomy_Mappings
CWE Content Team MITRE 2008-10-14 +00:00 updated Description
CWE Content Team MITRE 2009-10-29 +00:00 updated Other_Notes, Theoretical_Notes
CWE Content Team MITRE 2010-04-05 +00:00 updated Related_Attack_Patterns
CWE Content Team MITRE 2010-12-13 +00:00 updated Name
CWE Content Team MITRE 2011-06-01 +00:00 updated Common_Consequences
CWE Content Team MITRE 2012-05-11 +00:00 updated Observed_Examples, References, Relationships
CWE Content Team MITRE 2012-10-30 +00:00 updated Potential_Mitigations
CWE Content Team MITRE 2017-11-08 +00:00 updated Applicable_Platforms, References, Relationships
CWE Content Team MITRE 2018-03-27 +00:00 updated References
CWE Content Team MITRE 2019-01-03 +00:00 updated Related_Attack_Patterns
CWE Content Team MITRE 2020-02-24 +00:00 updated Relationships
CWE Content Team MITRE 2023-01-31 +00:00 updated Description
CWE Content Team MITRE 2023-04-27 +00:00 updated References, Relationships, Time_of_Introduction
CWE Content Team MITRE 2023-06-29 +00:00 updated Mapping_Notes