CWE-914 Detail

CWE-914

Name

Improper Control of Dynamically-Identified Variables

Status

Incomplete

Published

2013-02-21
00h00 +00:00

Modified

2023-10-26
00h00 +00:00

Official links

CWE Mitre.org

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Name: Improper Control of Dynamically-Identified Variables

The product does not properly restrict reading from or writing to dynamically-identified variables.

CWE Description

Many languages offer powerful features that allow the programmer to access arbitrary variables that are specified by an input string. While these features can offer significant flexibility and reduce development time, they can be extremely dangerous if attackers can modify unintended variables that have security implications.

General Informations

Modes Of Introduction

Implementation

Common Consequences

Scope	Impact	Likelihood
Integrity	Modify Application Data Note: An attacker could modify sensitive data or program variables.
Integrity	Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands
Other Integrity	Varies by Context, Alter Execution Logic

Observed Examples

References	Description
CVE-2006-7135	extract issue enables file inclusion
CVE-2006-7079	Chain: extract used for register_globals compatibility layer, enables path traversal (CWE-22)
CVE-2007-0649	extract() buried in include files makes post-disclosure analysis confusing; original report had seemed incorrect.
CVE-2006-6661	extract() enables static code injection
CVE-2006-2828	import_request_variables() buried in include files makes post-disclosure analysis confusing
CVE-2009-0422	Chain: Dynamic variable evaluation allows resultant remote file inclusion and path traversal.
CVE-2007-2431	Chain: dynamic variable evaluation in PHP program used to modify critical, unexpected $_SERVER variable for resultant XSS.
CVE-2006-4904	Chain: dynamic variable evaluation in PHP program used to conduct remote file inclusion.
CVE-2006-4019	Dynamic variable evaluation in mail program allows reading and modifying attachments and preferences of other users.

Potential Mitigations

Phases : Implementation
For any externally-influenced input, check the input against an allowlist of internal program variables that are allowed to be modified.
Phases : Implementation // Architecture and Design
Refactor the code so that internal program variables do not need to be dynamically identified.

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.

Submission

Name	Organization	Date	Date release	Version
CWE Content Team	MITRE	2013-01-26 +00:00	2013-02-21 +00:00	2.4

Modifications

Name	Organization	Date	Comment
CWE Content Team	MITRE	2017-01-19 +00:00	updated Relationships
CWE Content Team	MITRE	2020-02-24 +00:00	updated Relationships
CWE Content Team	MITRE	2020-06-25 +00:00	updated Potential_Mitigations
CWE Content Team	MITRE	2023-01-31 +00:00	updated Description
CWE Content Team	MITRE	2023-04-27 +00:00	updated Relationships, Time_of_Introduction
CWE Content Team	MITRE	2023-06-29 +00:00	updated Mapping_Notes
CWE Content Team	MITRE	2023-10-26 +00:00	updated Observed_Examples