2073
CAPEC-ID Attack Pattern Name
150 Collect Data from Common Resource Locations
204 Lifting Sensitive Data Embedded in Cache
545 Pull Data from System Resources
CWE-1259: Improper Restriction of Security Token Assignment
Weakness ID : 1259
Structure : Simple
Abstraction : Base
Description
The System-On-A-Chip (SoC) implements a Security Token mechanism to differentiate what
actions are allowed or disallowed when a transaction originates from an entity. However, the
Security Tokens are improperly protected.
Extended Description
Systems-On-A-Chip (Integrated circuits and hardware engines) implement Security Tokens
to differentiate and identify which actions originated from which agent. These actions may be
one of the directives: 'read', 'write', 'program', 'reset', 'fetch', 'compute', etc. Security Tokens
are assigned to every agent in the System that is capable of generating an action or receiving
an action from another agent. Multiple Security Tokens may be assigned to an agent and may
be unique based on the agent's trust level or allowed privileges. Since the Security Tokens are
integral for the maintenance of security in an SoC, they need to be protected properly. A common
weakness afflicting Security Tokens is improperly restricting the assignment to trusted components.
Consequently, an improperly protected Security Token may be able to be programmed by a
malicious agent (i.e., the Security Token is mutable) to spoof the action as if it originated from a
trusted agent.
Relationships
The table(s) below shows the weaknesses and high level categories that are related to this
weakness. These relationships are defined as ChildOf, ParentOf, MemberOr and give insight to
similar items that may exist at higher and lower levels of abstraction. In addition, relationships such
as PeerOf and CanAlsoBe are defined to show similar weaknesses that may want to be explored.
Relevant to the view "Research Concepts" (CWE-1000)
Nature Type ID Name Page
ChildOf 284 Improper Access Control 680
Relevant to the view "Hardware Design" (CWE-1194)
Nature Type ID Name Page
ChildOf 1294 Insecure Security Identifier Mechanism 2150
PeerOf 1255 Comparison Logic is Vulnerable to Power Side-Channel
Attacks