2147
Nature Type ID Name Page
MemberOf 1413 Comprehensive Categorization: Protection Mechanism
Failure
1400 2542
CWE-1292: Incorrect Conversion of Security Identifiers
Weakness ID : 1292
Structure : Simple
Abstraction : Base
Description
The product implements a conversion mechanism to map certain bus-transaction signals to
security identifiers. However, if the conversion is incorrectly implemented, untrusted agents can
gain unauthorized access to the asset.
Extended Description
In a System-On-Chip (SoC), various integrated circuits and hardware engines generate
transactions such as to access (reads/writes) assets or perform certain actions (e.g., reset, fetch,
compute, etc.). Among various types of message information, a typical transaction is comprised
of source identity (to identify the originator of the transaction) and a destination identity (to route
the transaction to the respective entity). Sometimes the transactions are qualified with a security
identifier. This security identifier helps the destination agent decide on the set of allowed actions
(e.g., access an asset for read and writes).
A typical bus connects several leader and follower agents. Some follower agents implement bus
protocols differently from leader agents. A protocol conversion happens at a bridge to seamlessly
connect different protocols on the bus. One example is a system that implements a leader with
the Advanced High-performance Bus (AHB) protocol and a follower with the Open-Core Protocol
(OCP). A bridge AHB-to-OCP is needed to translate the transaction from one form to the other.
A common weakness that can exist in this scenario is that this conversion between protocols is
implemented incorrectly, whereupon an untrusted agent may gain unauthorized access to an asset.
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
Applicable Platforms
Language : Not Language-Specific (Prevalence = Undetermined)
Operating_System : Not OS-Specific (Prevalence = Undetermined)
Architecture : Not Architecture-Specific (Prevalence = Undetermined)
Technology : Bus/Interface Hardware (Prevalence = Undetermined)
Technology : Not Technology-Specific (Prevalence = Undetermined)
CWE Version 4.14
CWE-1292: Incorrect Conversion of Security Identifiers
CWE-1292: Incorrect Conversion of Security Identifiers