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CWE-914

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CWE-914

Improper Control of Dynamically-Identified Variables

Base
Incomplete

Description

The product does not properly restrict reading from or writing to dynamically-identified variables.

Many languages offer powerful features that allow the programmer to access arbitrary variables that are specified by an input string. While these features can offer significant flexibility and reduce development time, they can be extremely dangerous if attackers can modify unintended variables that have security implications.

Common Consequences

Scope

Integrity

Impact

Modify Application Data

Scope

Integrity

Impact

Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands

Scope

Other
Integrity

Impact

Varies by Context, Alter Execution Logic

Potential Mitigations

Implementation

For any externally-influenced input, check the input against an allowlist of internal program variables that are allowed to be modified.

Implementation
Architecture and Design

Refactor the code so that internal program variables do not need to be dynamically identified.

CVE-2006-7135

extract issue enables file inclusion

CVE-2006-7079

Chain: extract used for register_globals compatibility layer, enables path traversal (CWE-22)

CVE-2007-0649

extract() buried in include files makes post-disclosure analysis confusing; original report had seemed incorrect.

CVE-2006-6661

extract() enables static code injection

CVE-2006-2828

import_request_variables() buried in include files makes post-disclosure analysis confusing

CVE-2009-0422

Chain: Dynamic variable evaluation allows resultant remote file inclusion and path traversal.

CVE-2007-2431

Chain: dynamic variable evaluation in PHP program used to modify critical, unexpected $_SERVER variable for resultant XSS.

CVE-2006-4904

Chain: dynamic variable evaluation in PHP program used to conduct remote file inclusion.

CVE-2006-4019

Dynamic variable evaluation in mail program allows reading and modifying attachments and preferences of other users.

Applicable Platforms

Not Language-Specific
Interpreted

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