1192
CWE-496: Public Data Assigned to Private Array-Typed Field
Weakness ID : 496
Structure : Simple
Abstraction : Variant
Description
Assigning public data to a private array is equivalent to giving public access to the array.
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 664 Improper Control of a Resource Through its Lifetime 1454
Applicable Platforms
Language : C (Prevalence = Undetermined)
Language : C++ (Prevalence = Undetermined)
Language : Java (Prevalence = Undetermined)
Language : C# (Prevalence = Undetermined)
Common Consequences
Scope Impact Likelihood
Integrity Modify Application Data
The contents of the array can be modified from outside the
intended scope.
Detection Methods
Automated Static Analysis
Automated static analysis, commonly referred to as Static Application Security Testing (SAST),
can find some instances of this weakness by analyzing source code (or binary/compiled code)
without having to execute it. Typically, this is done by building a model of data flow and control
flow, then searching for potentially-vulnerable patterns that connect "sources" (origins of input)
with "sinks" (destinations where the data interacts with external components, a lower layer such
as the OS, etc.)
Effectiveness = High
Potential Mitigations
Phase: Implementation
Do not allow objects to modify private members of a class.
Demonstrative Examples
Example 1:
In the example below, the setRoles() method assigns a publically-controllable array to a private
field, thus allowing the caller to modify the private array directly by virtue of the fact that arrays in
Java are mutable.
Example Language: Java (Bad)
private String[] userRoles;
public void setUserRoles(String[] userRoles) {
CWE Version 4.14
CWE-497: Exposure of Sensitive System Information to an Unauthorized Control Sphere
CWE-497: Exposure of Sensitive System
Information to an Unauthorized Control Sphere