CWE-1338 Base Draft

Improper Protections Against Hardware Overheating

This vulnerability occurs when a hardware device lacks sufficient safeguards to prevent dangerous temperature increases during operation.

Definition

What is CWE-1338?

This vulnerability occurs when a hardware device lacks sufficient safeguards to prevent dangerous temperature increases during operation.
All electronic devices generate heat as a byproduct of their operation. Faster processors and higher power draw create more thermal energy. Without built-in protections like temperature sensors, adequate cooling, or power throttling, this heat can build up uncontrollably. Malicious software can exploit this by forcing the hardware into high-performance states, deliberately triggering overheating to cause a temporary malfunction or permanent physical damage—a technique known as a thermal denial-of-service attack. The consequences extend beyond security, impacting device safety and long-term reliability. While similar issues exist for overvoltage or overcurrent conditions, overheating is uniquely tied to normal hardware activity. It's important to note that while these protections guard against operational heat, they do not address separate failure modes like battery malfunctions, which require their own mitigation strategies.
Auswirkungen in der Praxis

Real-world CVEs caused by CWE-1338

Bisher sind in MITREs Katalog keine öffentlichen CVE-Referenzen mit dieser CWE verknüpft.

Wie Angreifer es ausnutzen

Angreiferpfad Schritt für Schritt

  1. 1

    Malicious software running on a core can execute instructions that consume maximum power or increase core frequency. Such a power-virus program could execute on the platform for an extended time to overheat the device, resulting in permanent damage.

  2. 2

    Execution core and platform do not support thermal sensors, performance throttling, or platform-cooling countermeasures to ensure that any software executing on the system cannot cause overheating past the maximum allowable temperature.

  3. 3

    The platform and SoC should have failsafe thermal limits that are enforced by thermal sensors that trigger critical temperature alerts when high temperature is detected. Upon detection of high temperatures, the platform should trigger cooling or shutdown automatically.

Verwundbares Codebeispiel

Vulnerable pseudo

MITRE hat kein Codebeispiel für diese CWE veröffentlicht. Das untenstehende Muster ist illustrativ — kanonische Referenzen findest du unter Ressourcen.

Verwundbar pseudo 
// Example pattern — see MITRE for the canonical references.
function handleRequest(input) {
  // Untrusted input flows directly into the sensitive sink.
  return executeUnsafe(input);
}
Sicheres Codebeispiel

Secure pseudo

Sicher pseudo 
// Validate, sanitize, or use a safe API before reaching the sink.
function handleRequest(input) {
  const safe = validateAndEscape(input);
  return executeWithGuards(safe);
}
What changed: the unsafe sink is replaced (or the input is validated/escaped) so the same payload no longer triggers the weakness.
Präventions-Checkliste

How to prevent CWE-1338

  • Architecture and Design Temperature maximum and minimum limits should be enforced using thermal sensors both in silicon and at the platform level.
  • Implementation The platform should support cooling solutions such as fans that can be modulated based on device-operation needs to maintain a stable temperature.
Erkennungssignale

How to detect CWE-1338

Dynamic Analysis with Manual Results Interpretation High

Dynamic tests should be performed to stress-test temperature controls.

Architecture or Design Review High

Power management controls should be part of Architecture and Design reviews.

Plexicus Auto-Fix

Plexicus erkennt CWE-1338 automatisch und öffnet in unter 60 Sekunden einen Fix-PR.

Codex Remedium scannt jeden Commit, identifiziert genau diese Schwachstelle und liefert einen reviewer-ready Pull Request mit dem Patch. Keine Tickets. Keine Hand-offs.

Demo anfordern Plexicus kostenlos testen
Häufig gestellte Fragen

Frequently asked questions

Was ist CWE-1338?

This vulnerability occurs when a hardware device lacks sufficient safeguards to prevent dangerous temperature increases during operation.

Wie gravierend ist CWE-1338?

MITRE hat für diese Schwachstelle keine Exploit-Wahrscheinlichkeit veröffentlicht. Behandle sie als mittlere Auswirkung, bis dein Threat Model anderes belegt.

Welche Sprachen oder Plattformen sind von CWE-1338 betroffen?

MITRE lists the following affected platforms: Not OS-Specific, Not Architecture-Specific, Not Technology-Specific, ICS/OT, Power Management Hardware, Processor Hardware.

Wie kann ich CWE-1338 verhindern?

Temperature maximum and minimum limits should be enforced using thermal sensors both in silicon and at the platform level. The platform should support cooling solutions such as fans that can be modulated based on device-operation needs to maintain a stable temperature.

Wie erkennt und behebt Plexicus CWE-1338?

Die SAST-Engine von Plexicus erkennt die Datenfluss-Signatur von CWE-1338 bei jedem Commit. Bei einem Treffer öffnet unser Codex-Remedium-Agent einen Fix-PR mit korrigiertem Code, Tests und einer einzeiligen Zusammenfassung für den Reviewer.

Wo erfahre ich mehr über CWE-1338?

MITRE veröffentlicht die kanonische Definition unter https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/1338.html. Für ergänzende Hinweise kannst du auch die OWASP- und NIST-Dokumentation heranziehen.

Verwandte Schwachstellen

Weaknesses related to CWE-1338

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CWE-1269 Sibling

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CWE-1278 Sibling

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CWE-1291 Sibling

Public Key Re-Use for Signing both Debug and Production Code

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CWE-1318 Sibling

Missing Support for Security Features in On-chip Fabrics or Buses

This vulnerability occurs when the communication channels (fabrics or buses) within a chip lack built-in or enabled security features,…

CWE-1319 Sibling

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This vulnerability occurs when a hardware device lacks sufficient shielding against electromagnetic interference, allowing attackers to…

Ressourcen

Further reading

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