CWE-653 Class Draft

Improper Isolation or Compartmentalization

This vulnerability occurs when an application fails to enforce strong boundaries between components that operate at different security levels, allowing lower-privileged functions to improperly…

Definition

What is CWE-653?

This vulnerability occurs when an application fails to enforce strong boundaries between components that operate at different security levels, allowing lower-privileged functions to improperly interact with higher-privileged ones.
At its core, this weakness breaks a fundamental security principle: components with different trust levels should be kept separate. When an application doesn't properly isolate features, data, or processes, a flaw in a low-privilege area can create a bridge that attackers use to reach sensitive, high-privilege areas. Think of it like a building where a broken lock on a janitor's closet somehow gives access to the entire executive suite. For developers, this means that even a minor bug in a user-facing feature can escalate into a major breach if strong compartmentalization isn't in place. To prevent this, you must design clear security boundaries—using mechanisms like process separation, sandboxing, or strict access controls—to ensure that a compromise in one module is contained and cannot spread to more critical parts of the system.
Auswirkungen in der Praxis

Real-world CVEs caused by CWE-653

  • CVE-2021-33096

    Improper isolation of shared resource in a network-on-chip leads to denial of service

  • CVE-2019-6260

    Baseboard Management Controller (BMC) device implements Advanced High-performance Bus (AHB) bridges that do not require authentication for arbitrary read and write access to the BMC's physical address space from the host, and possibly the network [REF-1138].

Wie Angreifer es ausnutzen

Angreiferpfad Schritt für Schritt

  1. 1

    Identifiziere einen Codepfad, der nicht vertrauenswürdige Eingaben ohne Validierung verarbeitet.

  2. 2

    Erzeuge eine Payload, die das unsichere Verhalten auslöst — Injection, Traversal, Overflow oder Logik-Missbrauch.

  3. 3

    Liefere die Payload über einen normalen Request aus und beobachte die Reaktion der Anwendung.

  4. 4

    Iteriere, bis die Antwort Daten preisgibt, Angreifer-Code ausführt oder Berechtigungen eskaliert.

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-653

  • Architecture and Design Break up privileges between different modules, objects, or entities. Minimize the interfaces between modules and require strong access control between them.
Erkennungssignale

How to detect CWE-653

Automated Static Analysis - Binary or Bytecode SOAR Partial

According to SOAR, the following detection techniques may be useful: ``` Cost effective for partial coverage: ``` Compare binary / bytecode to application permission manifest

Manual Static Analysis - Source Code High

According to SOAR, the following detection techniques may be useful: ``` Highly cost effective: ``` Manual Source Code Review (not inspections) ``` Cost effective for partial coverage: ``` Focused Manual Spotcheck - Focused manual analysis of source

Architecture or Design Review High

According to SOAR, the following detection techniques may be useful: ``` Highly cost effective: ``` Inspection (IEEE 1028 standard) (can apply to requirements, design, source code, etc.) Formal Methods / Correct-By-Construction ``` Cost effective for partial coverage: ``` Attack Modeling

Plexicus Auto-Fix

Plexicus erkennt CWE-653 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-653?

This vulnerability occurs when an application fails to enforce strong boundaries between components that operate at different security levels, allowing lower-privileged functions to improperly interact with higher-privileged ones.

Wie gravierend ist CWE-653?

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-653 betroffen?

MITRE hat für diese CWE keine betroffenen Plattformen spezifiziert — sie kann in den meisten Anwendungs-Stacks auftreten.

Wie kann ich CWE-653 verhindern?

Break up privileges between different modules, objects, or entities. Minimize the interfaces between modules and require strong access control between them.

Wie erkennt und behebt Plexicus CWE-653?

Die SAST-Engine von Plexicus erkennt die Datenfluss-Signatur von CWE-653 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-653?

MITRE veröffentlicht die kanonische Definition unter https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/653.html. Für ergänzende Hinweise kannst du auch die OWASP- und NIST-Dokumentation heranziehen.

Verwandte Schwachstellen

Weaknesses related to CWE-653

CWE-657 Parent

Violation of Secure Design Principles

This weakness occurs when a system's architecture or design fails to follow fundamental security principles, creating a flawed foundation…

CWE-1192 Sibling

Improper Identifier for IP Block used in System-On-Chip (SOC)

This weakness occurs when a System-on-Chip (SoC) lacks a secure, unique, and permanent identifier for its internal hardware components (IP…

CWE-1395 Sibling

Dependency on Vulnerable Third-Party Component

This vulnerability occurs when your software relies on an external library, framework, or module that contains known security flaws.

CWE-250 Sibling

Execution with Unnecessary Privileges

This vulnerability occurs when software runs with higher permissions than it actually needs to perform its tasks. This excessive privilege…

CWE-636 Sibling

Not Failing Securely ('Failing Open')

This vulnerability occurs when a system, upon encountering an error or failure, defaults to its least secure configuration instead of a…

CWE-637 Sibling

Unnecessary Complexity in Protection Mechanism (Not Using 'Economy of Mechanism')

This weakness occurs when a security feature is implemented with excessive complexity, creating unnecessary risk. Overly intricate…

CWE-638 Sibling

Not Using Complete Mediation

This vulnerability occurs when software fails to verify access permissions every single time a user or process tries to use a resource.…

CWE-654 Sibling

Reliance on a Single Factor in a Security Decision

This vulnerability occurs when a system's security check depends almost entirely on just one condition, object, or piece of data to decide…

CWE-655 Sibling

Insufficient Psychological Acceptability

This weakness occurs when security features are so cumbersome or confusing that well-intentioned users feel forced to turn them off or…

Ressourcen

Further reading

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