CWE-1277 Base Brouillon

Firmware Not Updateable

This vulnerability occurs when a hardware product lacks a mechanism for users to install firmware updates, leaving known security flaws permanently unpatched.

Définition

What is CWE-1277?

This vulnerability occurs when a hardware product lacks a mechanism for users to install firmware updates, leaving known security flaws permanently unpatched.
When firmware cannot be updated, every security vulnerability discovered after manufacture becomes a permanent, unfixable flaw in the device. This exposes users to potential exploitation for the entire lifespan of the product—which could span decades—effectively locking in security risks. While network-level protections or monitoring can offer some external mitigation, they cannot address the core vulnerability within the device itself. This limitation places the long-term security burden entirely on the user and highlights a critical design failure in the product's lifecycle management.
Impact réel

Real-world CVEs caused by CWE-1277

  • CVE-2020-9054

    Chain: network-attached storage (NAS) device has a critical OS command injection (CWE-78) vulnerability that is actively exploited to place IoT devices into a botnet, but some products are "end-of-support" and cannot be patched (CWE-1277). [REF-1097]

  • [REF-1095]

    A hardware "smart lock" has weak key generation that allows attackers to steal the key by BLE sniffing, but the device's firmware cannot be upgraded and hence remains vulnerable [REF-1095].

Comment les attaquants l'exploitent

Parcours de l'attaquant étape par étape

  1. 1

    Identifier un chemin de code qui traite des entrées non fiables sans validation.

  2. 2

    Élaborer une charge utile qui exploite le comportement non sécurisé — injection, traversal, débordement ou abus de logique.

  3. 3

    Délivrer la charge utile via une requête normale et observer la réaction de l'application.

  4. 4

    Itérer jusqu'à ce que la réponse divulgue des données, exécute le code de l'attaquant ou élève les privilèges.

Exemple de code vulnérable

Vulnerable Other

A refrigerator has an Internet interface for the official purpose of alerting the manufacturer when that refrigerator detects a fault. Because the device is attached to the Internet, the refrigerator is a target for hackers who may wish to use the device other potentially more nefarious purposes.

Vulnérable Other 
The refrigerator has no means of patching and is hacked becoming a spewer of email spam.
Exemple de code sécurisé

Secure Other

Sécurisé Other 
The device automatically patches itself and provides considerable more protection against being hacked.
What changed: the unsafe sink is replaced (or the input is validated/escaped) so the same payload no longer triggers the weakness.
Liste de contrôle de prévention

How to prevent CWE-1277

  • Requirements Specify requirements to include the ability to update the firmware. Include integrity checks and authentication to ensure that untrusted firmware cannot be installed.
  • Architecture and Design Design the device to allow for updating the firmware. Ensure that the design specifies how to distribute the updates and ensure their integrity and authentication.
  • Implementation Implement the necessary functionality to allow the firmware to be updated.
Signaux de détection

How to detect CWE-1277

Manual Analysis High

Create a new installable boot image of the current build with a minor version number change. Use the standard installation method to update the boot image. Verify that the minor version number has changed. Create a fake image. Verify that the boot updater will not install the fake image and generates an "invalid image" error message or equivalent.

Architecture or Design Review Moderate

Check the consumer or maintainer documentation, the architecture/design documentation, or the original requirements to ensure that the documentation includes details for how to update the firmware.

Manual Dynamic Analysis High

Determine if there is a lack of a capability to update read-only memory (ROM) structure. This could manifest as a difference between the latest firmware version and the current version within the device.

Correction automatique Plexicus

Plexicus détecte automatiquement CWE-1277 et ouvre une PR de correction en moins de 60 secondes.

Codex Remedium analyse chaque commit, identifie cette faiblesse précise et livre une pull request prête à être relue avec le correctif. Pas de tickets. Pas de transferts.

Obtenir une démo Essayer Plexicus gratuitement
Questions fréquentes

Frequently asked questions

Qu'est-ce que CWE-1277 ?

This vulnerability occurs when a hardware product lacks a mechanism for users to install firmware updates, leaving known security flaws permanently unpatched.

Quelle est la gravité de CWE-1277 ?

MITRE n'a pas publié de note de probabilité d'exploitation pour cette faiblesse. Traitez-la comme un impact moyen jusqu'à ce que votre modèle de menace prouve le contraire.

Quels langages ou plateformes sont affectés par CWE-1277 ?

MITRE lists the following affected platforms: Not OS-Specific, Not Architecture-Specific, Not Technology-Specific.

Comment puis-je prévenir CWE-1277 ?

Specify requirements to include the ability to update the firmware. Include integrity checks and authentication to ensure that untrusted firmware cannot be installed. Design the device to allow for updating the firmware. Ensure that the design specifies how to distribute the updates and ensure their integrity and authentication.

Comment Plexicus détecte et corrige CWE-1277 ?

Le moteur SAST de Plexicus reconnaît la signature de flux de données de CWE-1277 à chaque commit. Lorsqu'une correspondance est trouvée, notre agent Codex Remedium ouvre une PR de correction avec le code corrigé, les tests et un résumé d'une ligne pour le relecteur.

Où puis-je en savoir plus sur CWE-1277 ?

MITRE publie la définition canonique à https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/1277.html. Vous pouvez également consulter la documentation OWASP et NIST pour des conseils adjacents.

Faiblesses associées

Weaknesses related to CWE-1277

CWE-1329 Parent

Reliance on Component That is Not Updateable

This vulnerability occurs when a product depends on a component that cannot be updated or patched to fix security flaws or critical bugs.

CWE-1310 Frère

Missing Ability to Patch ROM Code

A system or System-on-Chip (SoC) lacks a mechanism to update its initial boot code stored in Read-Only Memory (ROM), permanently exposing…

Ressources

Further reading

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