CWE-1320 Base Borrador

Improper Protection for Outbound Error Messages and Alert Signals

This vulnerability occurs when hardware alert systems for critical conditions, like overheating or power surges, lack proper security. Untrusted software or agents can disable these warnings or…

Definición

What is CWE-1320?

This vulnerability occurs when hardware alert systems for critical conditions, like overheating or power surges, lack proper security. Untrusted software or agents can disable these warnings or trigger false alarms, preventing the system from taking protective actions.
Hardware devices use sensors to monitor safe operating limits, such as temperature or voltage. These thresholds are typically set by trusted firmware (like BIOS) or hardware fuses. When a sensor detects a dangerous out-of-bounds condition, it should generate a secure alert signal that triggers a protective response—like throttling performance or shutting down to prevent damage. If these alert signals are not properly secured, malicious or untrusted software can interfere. Attackers can mask genuine alerts to let the hardware operate unsafely, or generate false alarms to cause performance degradation or a denial-of-service (DoS). This is commonly seen with thermal and power sensors, where compromised alerts can lead to hardware failure or reduced system availability.
Impacto en el mundo real

Real-world CVEs caused by CWE-1320

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

    Identifica una ruta de código que maneje entrada no confiable sin validación.

  2. 2

    Crea un payload que ejercite el comportamiento inseguro — inyección, traversal, overflow o abuso de lógica.

  3. 3

    Envía el payload a través de una solicitud normal y observa la reacción de la aplicación.

  4. 4

    Itera hasta que la respuesta filtre datos, ejecute código del atacante o escale privilegios.

Ejemplo de código vulnerable

Vulnerable Other

Consider a platform design where a Digital-Thermal Sensor (DTS) is used to monitor temperature and compare that output against a threshold value. If the temperature output equals or exceeds the threshold value, the DTS unit sends an alert signal to the processor. The processor, upon getting the alert, input triggers system shutdown. The alert signal is handled as a General-Purpose-I/O (GPIO) pin in input mode.

Vulnerable Other
The processor-GPIO controller exposes software-programmable controls that allow untrusted software to reprogram the state of the GPIO pin.
Ejemplo de código seguro

Secure Other

Reprogramming the state of the GPIO pin allows malicious software to trigger spurious alerts or to set the alert pin to a zero value so that thermal sensor alerts are not received by the processor.

Seguro Other
The GPIO alert-signal pin is blocked from untrusted software access and is controlled only by trusted software, such as the System BIOS.
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-1320

  • Architecture and Design Alert signals generated by critical events should be protected from access by untrusted agents. Only hardware or trusted firmware modules should be able to alter the alert configuration.
Señales de detección

How to detect CWE-1320

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-1320 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.

Preguntas frecuentes

Frequently asked questions

¿Qué es CWE-1320?

This vulnerability occurs when hardware alert systems for critical conditions, like overheating or power surges, lack proper security. Untrusted software or agents can disable these warnings or trigger false alarms, preventing the system from taking protective actions.

¿Qué gravedad tiene CWE-1320?

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-1320?

MITRE lists the following affected platforms: Not OS-Specific, Not Architecture-Specific, System on Chip, Microcontroller Hardware, Memory Hardware, Power Management Hardware, Processor Hardware, Test/Debug Hardware.

¿Cómo puedo prevenir CWE-1320?

Alert signals generated by critical events should be protected from access by untrusted agents. Only hardware or trusted firmware modules should be able to alter the alert configuration.

¿Cómo detecta y corrige Plexicus CWE-1320?

El motor SAST de Plexicus detecta la firma de flujo de datos para CWE-1320 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-1320?

MITRE publica la definición canónica en https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/1320.html. También puedes consultar la documentación de OWASP y NIST para guías relacionadas.

Debilidades relacionadas

Weaknesses related to CWE-1320

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