978
ParentOf 619 Dangling Database Cursor ('Cursor Injection') 1382
Alternate Terms
Resource Leak :
Common Consequences
Scope Impact Likelihood
Confidentiality Read Application Data
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
Observed Examples
Reference Description
CVE-2003-0740 Server leaks a privileged file descriptor, allowing the server to be hijacked.
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2003-0740
CVE-2004-1033 File descriptor leak allows read of restricted files.
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2004-1033
MemberOf Relationships
This MemberOf relationships table shows additional CWE Catgeories and Views that reference this
weakness as a member. This information is often useful in understanding where a weakness fits
within the context of external information sources.
Nature Type ID Name Page
MemberOf 963 SFP Secondary Cluster: Exposed Data 888 2400
MemberOf 1345 OWASP Top Ten 2021 Category A01:2021 - Broken
Access Control
1344 2487
MemberOf 1403 Comprehensive Categorization: Exposed Resource 1400 2528
CWE Version 4.14
CWE-403: Exposure of File Descriptor to Unintended Control Sphere ('File Descriptor Leak')
CWE-403: Exposure of File Descriptor to
Unintended Control Sphere ('File Descriptor Leak') 978
Taxonomy Mappings
Mapped Taxonomy Name Node ID Fit Mapped Node Name
PLOVER Resource leaks
CWE-403: Exposure of File Descriptor to Unintended Control Sphere ('File
Descriptor Leak')
Weakness ID : 403
Structure : Simple
Abstraction : Base
Description
A process does not close sensitive file descriptors before invoking a child process, which allows the
child to perform unauthorized I/O operations using those descriptors.
Extended Description
When a new process is forked or executed, the child process inherits any open file descriptors.
When the child process has fewer privileges than the parent process, this might introduce a
vulnerability if the child process can access the file descriptor but does not have the privileges to
access the associated file.
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 402 Transmission of Private Resources into a New Sphere
('Resource Leak')