CWE-69: Improper Handling of Windows ::DATA Alternate Data Stream
Improper Handling of Windows ::DATA Alternate Data Stream
Weakness ID: 69 (Weakness Variant)
Status: Incomplete
Description
Description Summary
The software does not properly prevent access to, or detect usage of, alternate data streams (ADS).
Extended Description
An attacker can use an ADS to hide information about a file (e.g. size, the name of the process) from a system or file browser tools such as Windows Explorer and 'dir' at the command line utility. Alternately, the attacker might be able to bypass intended access restrictions for the associated data fork.
Time of Introduction
Architecture and Design
Implementation
Applicable Platforms
Languages
All
Operating Systems
Windows
Common Consequences
Scope
Effect
Access Control
Non-Repudiation
Other
Technical Impact: Bypass protection
mechanism; Hide activities; Other
Software tools are capable of finding ADSs on your system.
Ensure that the source code correctly parses the filename to read or
write to the correct stream.
Background Details
Alternate data streams (ADS) were first implemented in the Windows NT
operating system to provide compatibility between NTFS and the Macintosh
Hierarchical File System (HFS). In HFS, data and resource forks are used to
store information about a file. The data fork provides information about the
contents of the file while the resource fork stores metadata such as file
type.
Description
