CWE-406 Clase Incompleto

Insufficient Control of Network Message Volume (Network Amplification)

This vulnerability occurs when a system fails to properly limit the amount of network traffic it can generate in response to a request, allowing an attacker to abuse it to send a disproportionately…

Definición

What is CWE-406?

This vulnerability occurs when a system fails to properly limit the amount of network traffic it can generate in response to a request, allowing an attacker to abuse it to send a disproportionately large volume of data.
Without clear limits on how much traffic a single user or request can trigger, a system cannot tell the difference between normal operations and an attack designed to amplify traffic. Attackers exploit this by sending small, seemingly innocent requests that force the system to generate massive, overwhelming responses. This turns the vulnerable application into an unwitting participant in a denial-of-service attack against other targets. To prevent this, systems need a defined resource policy that tracks and caps outgoing transmissions based on client identity, privilege, or request type. Implementing such controls—like rate limiting, traffic quotas, or monitoring for abnormal response sizes—ensures that no single entity can commandeer your network resources to launch an amplified attack.
Impacto en el mundo real

Real-world CVEs caused by CWE-406

  • CVE-1999-0513

    Classic "Smurf" attack, using spoofed ICMP packets to broadcast addresses.

  • CVE-1999-1379

    DNS query with spoofed source address causes more traffic to be returned to spoofed address than was sent by the attacker.

  • CVE-2000-0041

    Large datagrams are sent in response to malformed datagrams.

  • CVE-1999-1066

    Game server sends a large amount.

  • CVE-2013-5211

    composite: NTP feature generates large responses (high amplification factor) with spoofed UDP source addresses.

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 Python

This code listens on a port for DNS requests and sends the result to the requesting address.

Vulnerable Python 
sock = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_DGRAM)
  sock.bind( (UDP_IP,UDP_PORT) )
  while true:
  		data = sock.recvfrom(1024)
  		if not data:
  			break
  		(requestIP, nameToResolve) = parseUDPpacket(data)
  		record = resolveName(nameToResolve)
  		sendResponse(requestIP,record)
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-406

  • Architecture and Design An application must make network resources available to a client commensurate with the client's access level.
  • Policy Define a clear policy for network resource allocation and consumption.
  • Implementation An application must, at all times, keep track of network resources and meter their usage appropriately.
Señales de detección

How to detect CWE-406

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-406 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.

Solicitar demo Probar Plexicus gratis
Preguntas frecuentes

Frequently asked questions

¿Qué es CWE-406?

This vulnerability occurs when a system fails to properly limit the amount of network traffic it can generate in response to a request, allowing an attacker to abuse it to send a disproportionately large volume of data.

¿Qué gravedad tiene CWE-406?

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-406?

MITRE no ha especificado plataformas afectadas para esta CWE — puede aplicar a la mayoría de los stacks de aplicaciones.

¿Cómo puedo prevenir CWE-406?

An application must make network resources available to a client commensurate with the client's access level. Define a clear policy for network resource allocation and consumption.

¿Cómo detecta y corrige Plexicus CWE-406?

El motor SAST de Plexicus detecta la firma de flujo de datos para CWE-406 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-406?

MITRE publica la definición canónica en https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/406.html. También puedes consultar la documentación de OWASP y NIST para guías relacionadas.

Debilidades relacionadas

Weaknesses related to CWE-406

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CWE-1094 Hermano

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CWE-1176 Hermano

Inefficient CPU Computation

This weakness occurs when software uses inefficient algorithms or suboptimal CPU operations, performing unnecessary or overly complex…

CWE-407 Hermano

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Recursos

Further reading

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