CWE-1249 Base Incompleto

Application-Level Admin Tool with Inconsistent View of Underlying Operating System

This vulnerability occurs when an administrative tool (like a web interface or API) fails to accurately display the true state of the underlying operating system it manages. The tool's view becomes…

Definición

What is CWE-1249?

This vulnerability occurs when an administrative tool (like a web interface or API) fails to accurately display the true state of the underlying operating system it manages. The tool's view becomes inconsistent with reality, hiding critical resources like user accounts, processes, or files from the administrator.
Administrative tools for cloud platforms, network devices, or IoT systems often manage OS-level resources like user accounts. A critical security gap emerges when this management layer loses synchronization with the actual OS state. For instance, if an attacker adds a user account directly to the OS, this 'ghost account' might remain invisible in the admin panel. This discrepancy allows malicious activity to go undetected, as administrators rely on an incomplete and misleading view of their system's security posture. Attackers exploit this weakness by creating persistent backdoor accounts, often by chaining it with other vulnerabilities like command injection or logic flaws. A rogue administrator could also hide accounts for later use. Since the management tool doesn't reflect these changes, standard administrative reviews won't uncover them, allowing threats to persist undetected. Ensuring the management application's data model is always synchronized with a single, authoritative source of truth in the OS is essential for maintaining visibility and control.
Impacto en el mundo real

Real-world CVEs caused by CWE-1249

Todavía no hay CVEs públicos enlazados a esta CWE en el catálogo de MITRE.

Cómo lo explotan los atacantes

Ruta del atacante paso a paso

  1. 1

    Suppose that an attacker successfully gains root privileges on a Linux system and adds a new 'user2' account:

  2. 2

    This new user2 account would not be noticed on the web interface, if the interface does not refresh its data of available users.

  3. 3

    It could be argued that for this specific example, an attacker with root privileges would be likely to compromise the admin tool or otherwise feed it with false data. However, this example shows how the discrepancy in critical data can help attackers to escape detection.

Ejemplo de código vulnerable

Vulnerable Other

Suppose that an attacker successfully gains root privileges on a Linux system and adds a new 'user2' account:

Vulnerable Other 
echo "user2:x:0:0::/root:/" >> /etc/passwd;
  echo "user2:\$6\$IdvyrM6VJnG8Su5U\$1gmW3Nm.IO4vxTQDQ1C8urm72JCadOHZQwqiH/nRtL8dPY80xS4Ovsv5bPCMWnXKKWwmsocSWXupUf17LB3oS.:17256:0:99999:7:::" >> /etc/shadow;
Payload del atacante

Suppose that an attacker successfully gains root privileges on a Linux system and adds a new 'user2' account:

Payload del atacante Other 
echo "user2:x:0:0::/root:/" >> /etc/passwd;
  echo "user2:\$6\$IdvyrM6VJnG8Su5U\$1gmW3Nm.IO4vxTQDQ1C8urm72JCadOHZQwqiH/nRtL8dPY80xS4Ovsv5bPCMWnXKKWwmsocSWXupUf17LB3oS.:17256:0:99999:7:::" >> /etc/shadow;
Ejemplo de código seguro

Secure pseudo

Seguro 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.
Lista de prevención

How to prevent CWE-1249

  • Architecture and Design Ensure that the admin tool refreshes its model of the underlying OS on a regular basis, and note any inconsistencies with configuration files or other data sources that are expected to have the same data.
Señales de detección

How to detect CWE-1249

SAST High

Ejecuta análisis estático (SAST) sobre el código buscando el patrón inseguro en el flujo de datos.

DAST Moderate

Ejecuta pruebas dinámicas de seguridad de aplicaciones (DAST) contra el endpoint en vivo.

Runtime Moderate

Vigila los logs en tiempo de ejecución para detectar trazas de excepción inusuales, entradas malformadas o intentos de bypass de autorización.

Code review Moderate

Revisión de código: marca cualquier código nuevo que maneje entrada desde esta superficie sin usar los helpers validados del framework.

Auto-corrección de Plexicus

Plexicus detecta automáticamente CWE-1249 y abre un PR de corrección en menos de 60 segundos.

Codex Remedium escanea cada commit, identifica esta debilidad concreta y entrega un pull request listo para revisión con el parche. Sin tickets. Sin traspasos.

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Preguntas frecuentes

Frequently asked questions

¿Qué es CWE-1249?

This vulnerability occurs when an administrative tool (like a web interface or API) fails to accurately display the true state of the underlying operating system it manages. The tool's view becomes inconsistent with reality, hiding critical resources like user accounts, processes, or files from the administrator.

¿Qué gravedad tiene CWE-1249?

MITRE no ha publicado una calificación de probabilidad de explotación para esta debilidad. Trátala como de impacto medio hasta que tu modelo de amenazas demuestre lo contrario.

¿Qué lenguajes o plataformas se ven afectados por CWE-1249?

MITRE lists the following affected platforms: Not OS-Specific, Web Based.

¿Cómo puedo prevenir CWE-1249?

Ensure that the admin tool refreshes its model of the underlying OS on a regular basis, and note any inconsistencies with configuration files or other data sources that are expected to have the same data.

¿Cómo detecta y corrige Plexicus CWE-1249?

El motor SAST de Plexicus detecta la firma de flujo de datos para CWE-1249 en cada commit. Cuando hay coincidencia, nuestro agente Codex Remedium abre un PR de corrección con el código corregido, las pruebas y un resumen de una línea para el revisor.

¿Dónde puedo aprender más sobre CWE-1249?

MITRE publica la definición canónica en https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/1249.html. También puedes consultar la documentación de OWASP y NIST para guías relacionadas.

Debilidades relacionadas

Weaknesses related to CWE-1249

CWE-1250 Padre

Improper Preservation of Consistency Between Independent Representations of Shared State

This vulnerability occurs when a system with multiple independent components (like distributed services or separate hardware units) each…

CWE-1251 Hermano

Mirrored Regions with Different Values

This vulnerability occurs when a system maintains duplicate copies of data or resources (like cached memory or shadow registers) but fails…

Recursos

Further reading

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