CWE-862
Weakness Allowed-with-ReviewMissing Authorization
Abstraction: Class · Status: Incomplete
The product does not perform an authorization check when an actor attempts to access a resource or perform an action.
Dimensions
- Behavior-Property: Missing
- Behavior-Type: Authorization
Mapping guidance
This CWE entry is a Class and might have Base-level children that would be more appropriate
Examine children of this entry to see if there is a better fit
Relationships and members
Modes of introduction
OMISSION: This weakness is caused by missing a security tactic during the architecture and design phase.
Authorization weaknesses may arise when a single-user application is ported to a multi-user environment.
A developer may introduce authorization weaknesses because of a lack of understanding about the underlying technologies. For example, a developer may assume that attackers cannot modify certain inputs such as headers or cookies.
Detection methods
Automated Static Analysis
Automated static analysis is useful for detecting commonly-used idioms for authorization. A tool may be able to analyze related configuration files, such as .htaccess in Apache web servers, or detect the usage of commonly-used authorization libraries.
Generally, automated static analysis tools have difficulty detecting custom authorization schemes. In addition, the software's design may include some functionality that is accessible to any user and does not require an authorization check; an automated technique that detects the absence of authorization may report false positives.
Effectiveness: Limited
Automated Dynamic Analysis
Automated dynamic analysis may find many or all possible interfaces that do not require authorization, but manual analysis is required to determine if the lack of authorization violates business logic.
Manual Analysis
This weakness can be detected using tools and techniques that require manual (human) analysis, such as penetration testing, threat modeling, and interactive tools that allow the tester to record and modify an active session.
Specifically, manual static analysis is useful for evaluating the correctness of custom authorization mechanisms.
Effectiveness: Moderate
These may be more effective than strictly automated techniques. This is especially the case with weaknesses that are related to design and business rules. However, manual efforts might not achieve desired code coverage within limited time constraints.
Manual Static Analysis - Binary or Bytecode
According to SOAR [REF-1479], the following detection techniques may be useful:
Cost effective for partial coverage:
Binary / Bytecode disassembler - then use manual analysis for vulnerabilities & anomalies
Effectiveness: SOAR Partial
Dynamic Analysis with Automated Results Interpretation
According to SOAR [REF-1479], the following detection techniques may be useful:
Cost effective for partial coverage:
Web Application Scanner
Web Services Scanner
Database Scanners
Effectiveness: SOAR Partial
Dynamic Analysis with Manual Results Interpretation
According to SOAR [REF-1479], the following detection techniques may be useful:
Cost effective for partial coverage:
Host Application Interface Scanner
Fuzz Tester
Framework-based Fuzzer
Effectiveness: SOAR Partial
Manual Static Analysis - Source Code
According to SOAR [REF-1479], the following detection techniques may be useful:
Cost effective for partial coverage:
Focused Manual Spotcheck - Focused manual analysis of source
Manual Source Code Review (not inspections)
Effectiveness: SOAR Partial
Automated Static Analysis - Source Code
According to SOAR [REF-1479], the following detection techniques may be useful:
Cost effective for partial coverage:
Source code Weakness Analyzer
Context-configured Source Code Weakness Analyzer
Effectiveness: SOAR Partial
Architecture or Design Review
According to SOAR [REF-1479], the following detection techniques may be useful:
Highly cost effective:
Inspection (IEEE 1028 standard) (can apply to requirements, design, source code, etc.)
Formal Methods / Correct-By-Construction
Effectiveness: High
Notes
Terminology
Assuming a user with a given identity, authorization is the process of determining whether that user can access a given resource, based on the user's privileges and any permissions or other access-control specifications that apply to the resource.
Content history
Suggested mappings to ISA/IEC 62443.
Provided diagram to improve CWE usability
updated Demonstrative_Examples, Related_Attack_Patterns, Relationships
updated Potential_Mitigations, References, Relationships
updated Demonstrative_Examples, Observed_Examples, References, Relationships
updated Potential_Mitigations
updated Relationships
updated Detection_Factors
updated Relationships
updated Applicable_Platforms, Modes_of_Introduction, References, Relationships
updated References
updated Relationships
updated Relationships
updated Relationships
updated Relationships
updated Alternate_Terms, Observed_Examples
updated Observed_Examples, Related_Attack_Patterns, Relationships
updated Relationships
updated Relationships
updated Observed_Examples
updated Description, Potential_Mitigations
updated References, Relationships, Taxonomy_Mappings
updated Mapping_Notes, Relationships, Taxonomy_Mappings
updated Common_Consequences, Description, Diagram, Relationships, Terminology_Notes
updated Applicable_Platforms, Detection_Factors, Observed_Examples, References
updated Applicable_Platforms, Relationships, Weakness_Ordinalities
updated Applicable_Platforms, Observed_Examples, Relationships
updated Applicable_Platforms, Dimensions, References, Relationships, Taxonomy_Mappings
19887 vulnerabilities reference this CWE, most recent first.
GHSA-9F9W-6H4V-8H8V
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-10-16 09:30 – Updated: 2024-10-16 09:30The File Manager plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to authorization bypass due to a missing capability check in the /inc/root.php file in versions up to, and including, 3.0. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to download arbitrary files from the server and upload arbitrary files that can be used for remote code execution.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2018-25105"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-862"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-10-16T07:15:05Z",
"severity": "CRITICAL"
},
"details": "The File Manager plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to authorization bypass due to a missing capability check in the /inc/root.php file in versions up to, and including, 3.0. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to download arbitrary files from the server and upload arbitrary files that can be used for remote code execution.",
"id": "GHSA-9f9w-6h4v-8h8v",
"modified": "2024-10-16T09:30:30Z",
"published": "2024-10-16T09:30:30Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-25105"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset?sfp_email=\u0026sfph_mail=\u0026reponame=\u0026old=1942390%40wp-file-manager\u0026new=1942390%40wp-file-manager\u0026sfp_email=\u0026sfph_mail="
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/a56d5a2f-ae13-4523-bc4a-17bb2fb4c6f0?source=cve"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-9FC2-7QR9-6C84
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-09-03 18:31 – Updated: 2026-09-03 18:31Unauthenticated Broken Access Control in YITH Request a Quote for WooCommerce Premium < 4.46.0 versions.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2026-84238"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-862"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-09-03T17:17:25Z",
"severity": "CRITICAL"
},
"details": "Unauthenticated Broken Access Control in YITH Request a Quote for WooCommerce Premium \u003c 4.46.0 versions.",
"id": "GHSA-9fc2-7qr9-6c84",
"modified": "2026-09-03T18:31:49Z",
"published": "2026-09-03T18:31:49Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-84238"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://patchstack.com/database/wordpress/plugin/yith-woocommerce-request-a-quote-premium/vulnerability/wordpress-yith-request-a-quote-for-woocommerce-premium-plugin-4-46-0-broken-access-control-vulnerability?_s_id=cve"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-9FC9-8V4X-F5CP
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-05-11 18:31 – Updated: 2026-05-11 18:31OpenClaw before 2026.4.20 contains a guard bypass vulnerability in the agent-facing gateway config.patch and config.apply endpoints that fails to protect operator-trusted settings including sandbox policy, plugin enablement, gateway auth/TLS, hook routing, MCP server configuration, SSRF policy, and filesystem hardening. A prompt-injected model with access to the owner-only gateway tool can persist unauthorized changes to protected operator settings.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2026-45001"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-862"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-05-11T18:16:40Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "OpenClaw before 2026.4.20 contains a guard bypass vulnerability in the agent-facing gateway config.patch and config.apply endpoints that fails to protect operator-trusted settings including sandbox policy, plugin enablement, gateway auth/TLS, hook routing, MCP server configuration, SSRF policy, and filesystem hardening. A prompt-injected model with access to the owner-only gateway tool can persist unauthorized changes to protected operator settings.",
"id": "GHSA-9fc9-8v4x-f5cp",
"modified": "2026-05-11T18:31:47Z",
"published": "2026-05-11T18:31:47Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-7jm2-g593-4qrc"
},
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-45001"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/fe30b31a97a917ecc6e92f6c85378b6b20352422"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-gateway-config-mutation-guard-bypass-via-agent-tool-access"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:N",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
},
{
"score": "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:L/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X",
"type": "CVSS_V4"
}
]
}
GHSA-9FF6-X5JH-JR5G
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-04-04 18:31 – Updated: 2026-04-01 18:34Missing Authorization vulnerability in Xpro Xpro Theme Builder allows Exploiting Incorrectly Configured Access Control Security Levels. This issue affects Xpro Theme Builder: from n/a through 1.2.8.3.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-32201"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-862"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-04-04T16:15:30Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Missing Authorization vulnerability in Xpro Xpro Theme Builder allows Exploiting Incorrectly Configured Access Control Security Levels. This issue affects Xpro Theme Builder: from n/a through 1.2.8.3.",
"id": "GHSA-9ff6-x5jh-jr5g",
"modified": "2026-04-01T18:34:31Z",
"published": "2025-04-04T18:31:01Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-32201"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://patchstack.com/database/wordpress/plugin/xpro-theme-builder/vulnerability/wordpress-xpro-theme-builder-plugin-1-2-8-3-broken-access-control-vulnerability?_s_id=cve"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-9FG4-X49F-5HHC
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-09-23 21:30 – Updated: 2026-09-24 06:31A flaw was found in the Ansible Automation Platform automation-controller. When a WorkflowJobTemplate is copied, the deep-copy permission sanitizer validates only the inventory, unified_job_template, and credentials of each cloned node and fails to check the instance_groups (and execution_environment and labels) that were preserved from the original. A user with organization workflow-admin permission but no role on the referenced instance groups can copy a workflow, become its administrator, and launch jobs pinned to instance groups they are not authorized to use — including the control-plane instance group — bypassing the InstanceGroup use_role boundary and causing attacker-influenced automation to run in the control-plane execution context.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2026-84719"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-862"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-09-23T20:17:18Z",
"severity": "CRITICAL"
},
"details": "A flaw was found in the Ansible Automation Platform automation-controller. When a\nWorkflowJobTemplate is copied, the deep-copy permission sanitizer validates only the inventory,\nunified_job_template, and credentials of each cloned node and fails to check the instance_groups\n(and execution_environment and labels) that were preserved from the original. A user with\norganization workflow-admin permission but no role on the referenced instance groups can copy a\nworkflow, become its administrator, and launch jobs pinned to instance groups they are not\nauthorized to use \u2014 including the control-plane instance group \u2014 bypassing the InstanceGroup\nuse_role boundary and causing attacker-influenced automation to run in the control-plane\nexecution context.",
"id": "GHSA-9fg4-x49f-5hhc",
"modified": "2026-09-24T06:31:14Z",
"published": "2026-09-23T21:30:58Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-84719"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:71113"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:71114"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:71115"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:71177"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:71179"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-84719"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2527213"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-9FHM-WJXP-VCJV
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-09-17 15:32 – Updated: 2026-09-17 15:32Unauthenticated Broken Access Control in Easy Invoice <= 2.3.8 versions.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2026-66676"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-862"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-09-17T14:17:20Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Unauthenticated Broken Access Control in Easy Invoice \u003c= 2.3.8 versions.",
"id": "GHSA-9fhm-wjxp-vcjv",
"modified": "2026-09-17T15:32:13Z",
"published": "2026-09-17T15:32:13Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-66676"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://patchstack.com/database/wordpress/plugin/easy-invoice/vulnerability/wordpress-easy-invoice-plugin-2-3-8-broken-access-control-vulnerability?_s_id=cve"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-9FHQ-9FX7-9F4H
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-01-23 15:31 – Updated: 2026-01-23 21:30Missing Authorization vulnerability in Cloudinary Cloudinary cloudinary-image-management-and-manipulation-in-the-cloud-cdn allows Exploiting Incorrectly Configured Access Control Security Levels.This issue affects Cloudinary: from n/a through <= 3.3.0.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2026-24560"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-862"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-01-23T15:16:13Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Missing Authorization vulnerability in Cloudinary Cloudinary cloudinary-image-management-and-manipulation-in-the-cloud-cdn allows Exploiting Incorrectly Configured Access Control Security Levels.This issue affects Cloudinary: from n/a through \u003c= 3.3.0.",
"id": "GHSA-9fhq-9fx7-9f4h",
"modified": "2026-01-23T21:30:43Z",
"published": "2026-01-23T15:31:36Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-24560"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://patchstack.com/database/Wordpress/Plugin/cloudinary-image-management-and-manipulation-in-the-cloud-cdn/vulnerability/wordpress-cloudinary-plugin-3-3-0-broken-access-control-vulnerability?_s_id=cve"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-9FHQ-MMQ4-6FP7
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 22:28 – Updated: 2022-05-24 22:28An exploitable information disclosure vulnerability exists in SoftPerfect’s RAM Disk 4.1 spvve.sys driver. A specially crafted I/O request packet (IRP) can cause the disclosure of sensitive information. An attacker can send a malicious IRP to trigger this vulnerability.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2020-13523"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-200",
"CWE-862"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2020-08-04T19:15:00Z",
"severity": "LOW"
},
"details": "An exploitable information disclosure vulnerability exists in SoftPerfect\u2019s RAM Disk 4.1 spvve.sys driver. A specially crafted I/O request packet (IRP) can cause the disclosure of sensitive information. An attacker can send a malicious IRP to trigger this vulnerability.",
"id": "GHSA-9fhq-mmq4-6fp7",
"modified": "2022-05-24T22:28:29Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T22:28:29Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-13523"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://talosintelligence.com/vulnerability_reports/TALOS-2020-1122"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-9FJF-3VJH-P57C
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-13 01:14 – Updated: 2022-05-13 01:14It was discovered that in the ovirt's REST API before version 4.3.2.1, RemoveDiskCommand is triggered as an internal command, meaning the permission validation that should be performed against the calling user is skipped. A user with low privileges (eg Basic Operations) could exploit this flaw to delete disks attached to guests.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2019-3879"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-862"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2019-03-25T19:29:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "It was discovered that in the ovirt\u0027s REST API before version 4.3.2.1, RemoveDiskCommand is triggered as an internal command, meaning the permission validation that should be performed against the calling user is skipped. A user with low privileges (eg Basic Operations) could exploit this flaw to delete disks attached to guests.",
"id": "GHSA-9fjf-3vjh-p57c",
"modified": "2022-05-13T01:14:27Z",
"published": "2022-05-13T01:14:27Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-3879"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHBA-2019:0802"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2019-3879"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/107561"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-9FMQ-6264-J29F
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-06-09 12:30 – Updated: 2024-06-09 12:30Missing Authorization vulnerability in Pixelite Events Manager.This issue affects Events Manager: from n/a through 6.4.6.4.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-30515"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-862"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-06-09T11:15:52Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Missing Authorization vulnerability in Pixelite Events Manager.This issue affects Events Manager: from n/a through 6.4.6.4.",
"id": "GHSA-9fmq-6264-j29f",
"modified": "2024-06-09T12:30:52Z",
"published": "2024-06-09T12:30:52Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-30515"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://patchstack.com/database/vulnerability/events-manager/wordpress-events-manager-plugin-6-4-6-4-broken-access-control-vulnerability?_s_id=cve"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
Mitigation
- Divide the product into anonymous, normal, privileged, and administrative areas. Reduce the attack surface by carefully mapping roles with data and functionality. Use role-based access control (RBAC) [REF-229] to enforce the roles at the appropriate boundaries.
- Note that this approach may not protect against horizontal authorization, i.e., it will not protect a user from attacking others with the same role.
Mitigation
Ensure that access control checks are performed related to the business logic. These checks may be different than the access control checks that are applied to more generic resources such as files, connections, processes, memory, and database records. For example, a database may restrict access for medical records to a specific database user, but each record might only be intended to be accessible to the patient and the patient's doctor [REF-7].
Mitigation MIT-4.4
Strategy: Libraries or Frameworks
- Use a vetted library or framework that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid.
- For example, consider using authorization frameworks such as the JAAS Authorization Framework [REF-233] and the OWASP ESAPI Access Control feature [REF-45].
Mitigation
- For web applications, make sure that the access control mechanism is enforced correctly at the server side on every page. Users should not be able to access any unauthorized functionality or information by simply requesting direct access to that page.
- One way to do this is to ensure that all pages containing sensitive information are not cached, and that all such pages restrict access to requests that are accompanied by an active and authenticated session token associated with a user who has the required permissions to access that page.
Mitigation
Use the access control capabilities of your operating system and server environment and define your access control lists accordingly. Use a "default deny" policy when defining these ACLs.
CAPEC-665: Exploitation of Thunderbolt Protection Flaws
An adversary leverages a firmware weakness within the Thunderbolt protocol, on a computing device to manipulate Thunderbolt controller firmware in order to exploit vulnerabilities in the implementation of authorization and verification schemes within Thunderbolt protection mechanisms. Upon gaining physical access to a target device, the adversary conducts high-level firmware manipulation of the victim Thunderbolt controller SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface) flash, through the use of a SPI Programing device and an external Thunderbolt device, typically as the target device is booting up. If successful, this allows the adversary to modify memory, subvert authentication mechanisms, spoof identities and content, and extract data and memory from the target device. Currently 7 major vulnerabilities exist within Thunderbolt protocol with 9 attack vectors as noted in the Execution Flow.