CWE-422

Variant Abstraction Level
Pillar — Highest-level weakness category
Class — Abstract, language-independent
Base — Specific enough to detect
Variant — Tied to specific technology
Compound — Requires multiple weaknesses Draft MITRE CWE Status
Stable — Fully reviewed and complete
Draft — Under development, may change
Incomplete — Partially defined by MITRE
Deprecated — No longer recommended
Obsolete — Replaced by another CWE
Unprotected Windows Messaging Channel ('Shatter')

Description

The product does not properly verify the source of a message in the Windows Messaging System while running at elevated privileges, creating an alternate channel through which an attacker can directly send a message to the product.

Consequences

Access Control — Gain Privileges or Assume Identity, Bypass Protection Mechanism

Mitigations

Phase: Architecture and Design

Always verify and authenticate the source of the message.