CWE-689 Composé Brouillon

Permission Race Condition During Resource Copy

This vulnerability occurs when a system copies a file or resource but delays setting its final permissions until the entire copy operation is finished. During the copy process, the resource remains…

Définition

What is CWE-689?

This vulnerability occurs when a system copies a file or resource but delays setting its final permissions until the entire copy operation is finished. During the copy process, the resource remains exposed with default or overly permissive access, creating a temporary window where unauthorized users or processes could read, modify, or delete it.
This race condition is a classic time-of-check to time-of-use (TOCTOU) flaw specific to resource duplication. When an application copies a file—for example, during installation, backup, or user upload—it often creates the new file with broad default permissions (like world-readable) to ensure the copy succeeds. The intended restrictive permissions are only applied after the data transfer is complete. This gap, however brief, is a real security risk, especially on multi-user systems or shared hosting environments where other processes are actively running. To prevent this, developers should implement atomic operations where possible, such as creating the file with the correct permissions from the outset before writing data. Alternatively, copy operations can be performed in a secure, isolated temporary location with strict access controls, and the file should only be moved to its final destination after both the data and the correct permissions are fully applied, eliminating the exposure window.
Impact réel

Real-world CVEs caused by CWE-689

  • Archive extractor decompresses files with world-readable permissions, then later sets permissions to what the archive specified.

  • Product inserts a new object into database before setting the object's permissions, introducing a race condition.

  • Error file has weak permissions before a chmod is performed.

  • Archive permissions issue using hard link.

  • Database product creates files world-writable before initializing the setuid bits, leading to modification of executables.

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 pseudo

MITRE n'a pas publié d'exemple de code pour ce CWE. Le motif ci-dessous est illustratif — voir Ressources pour les références canoniques.

Vulnérable pseudo
// Example pattern — see MITRE for the canonical references.
function handleRequest(input) {
  // Untrusted input flows directly into the sensitive sink.
  return executeUnsafe(input);
}
Exemple de code sécurisé

Secure pseudo

Sécurisé 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.
Liste de contrôle de prévention

How to prevent CWE-689

  • Architecture Use safe-by-default frameworks and APIs that prevent the unsafe pattern from being expressible.
  • Implementation Validate input at trust boundaries; use allowlists, not denylists.
  • Implementation Apply the principle of least privilege to credentials, file paths, and runtime permissions.
  • Testing Cover this weakness in CI: SAST rules + targeted unit tests for the data flow.
  • Operation Monitor logs for the runtime signals listed in the next section.
Signaux de détection

How to detect CWE-689

SAST High

Exécuter une analyse statique (SAST) sur le code source à la recherche du motif non sécurisé dans le flux de données.

DAST Moderate

Exécuter des tests de sécurité applicative dynamique (DAST) contre le point de terminaison en ligne.

Runtime Moderate

Surveiller les journaux runtime pour détecter des traces d'exception inhabituelles, des entrées malformées ou des tentatives de contournement d'autorisation.

Code review Moderate

Revue de code : signaler tout nouveau code qui traite les entrées de cette surface sans utiliser les helpers du framework validés.

Correction automatique Plexicus

Plexicus détecte automatiquement CWE-689 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.

Questions fréquentes

Frequently asked questions

Qu'est-ce que CWE-689 ?

This vulnerability occurs when a system copies a file or resource but delays setting its final permissions until the entire copy operation is finished. During the copy process, the resource remains exposed with default or overly permissive access, creating a temporary window where unauthorized users or processes could read, modify, or delete it.

Quelle est la gravité de CWE-689 ?

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-689 ?

MITRE lists the following affected platforms: C, Perl.

Comment puis-je prévenir CWE-689 ?

Use safe-by-default frameworks, validate untrusted input at trust boundaries, and apply the principle of least privilege. Cover the data-flow signature in CI with SAST.

Comment Plexicus détecte et corrige CWE-689 ?

Le moteur SAST de Plexicus reconnaît la signature de flux de données de CWE-689 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-689 ?

MITRE publie la définition canonique à https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/689.html. Vous pouvez également consulter la documentation OWASP et NIST pour des conseils adjacents.

Faiblesses associées

Weaknesses related to CWE-689

CWE-362 Parent

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CWE-1223 Frère

Race Condition for Write-Once Attributes

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CWE-1298 Frère

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CWE-364 Frère

Signal Handler Race Condition

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CWE-366 Frère

Race Condition within a Thread

This vulnerability occurs when two or more threads within the same application access and manipulate a shared resource (like a variable,…

CWE-367 Frère

Time-of-check Time-of-use (TOCTOU) Race Condition

This vulnerability occurs when a program verifies a resource's state (like a file's permissions or existence) but then uses it after that…

CWE-368 Frère

Context Switching Race Condition

This vulnerability occurs when an application switches between different security contexts (like privilege levels or domains) using a…

CWE-421 Frère

Race Condition During Access to Alternate Channel

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CWE-732 Pair

Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource

This vulnerability occurs when a system grants overly permissive access to a sensitive resource, allowing unauthorized users or processes…

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