CWE-486: Comparison of Classes by Name
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Edit Custom FilterThe product compares classes by name, which can cause it to use the wrong class when multiple classes can have the same name.
If the decision to trust the methods and data of an object is based on the name of a class, it is possible for malicious users to send objects of the same name as trusted classes and thereby gain the trust afforded to known classes and types.
This table specifies different individual consequences
associated with the weakness. The Scope identifies the application security area that is
violated, while the Impact describes the negative technical impact that arises if an
adversary succeeds in exploiting this weakness. The Likelihood provides information about
how likely the specific consequence is expected to be seen relative to the other
consequences in the list. For example, there may be high likelihood that a weakness will be
exploited to achieve a certain impact, but a low likelihood that it will be exploited to
achieve a different impact.
This table shows the weaknesses and high level categories that are related to this
weakness. These relationships are defined as ChildOf, ParentOf, MemberOf 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 the user
may want to explore.
Relevant to the view "Research Concepts" (CWE-1000)
The different Modes of Introduction provide information
about how and when this
weakness may be introduced. The Phase identifies a point in the life cycle at which
introduction
may occur, while the Note provides a typical scenario related to introduction during the
given
phase.
This listing shows possible areas for which the given
weakness could appear. These
may be for specific named Languages, Operating Systems, Architectures, Paradigms,
Technologies,
or a class of such platforms. The platform is listed along with how frequently the given
weakness appears for that instance.
Languages Java (Undetermined Prevalence) Example 1 In this example, the expression in the if statement compares the class of the inputClass object to a trusted class by comparing the class names. (bad code)
Example Language: Java
if (inputClass.getClass().getName().equals("TrustedClassName")) {
// Do something assuming you trust inputClass // ... However, multiple classes can have the same name therefore comparing an object's class by name can allow untrusted classes of the same name as the trusted class to be use to execute unintended or incorrect code. To compare the class of an object to the intended class the getClass() method and the comparison operator "==" should be used to ensure the correct trusted class is used, as shown in the following example. (good code)
Example Language: Java
if (inputClass.getClass() == TrustedClass.class) {
// Do something assuming you trust inputClass // ... Example 2 In this example, the Java class, TrustedClass, overrides the equals method of the parent class Object to determine equivalence of objects of the class. The overridden equals method first determines if the object, obj, is the same class as the TrustedClass object and then compares the object's fields to determine if the objects are equivalent. (bad code)
Example Language: Java
public class TrustedClass {
...
@Override public boolean equals(Object obj) { boolean isEquals = false;
// first check to see if the object is of the same class if (obj.getClass().getName().equals(this.getClass().getName())) { // then compare object fields ... if (...) { isEquals = true; }return isEquals; ... However, the equals method compares the class names of the object, obj, and the TrustedClass object to determine if they are the same class. As with the previous example using the name of the class to compare the class of objects can lead to the execution of unintended or incorrect code if the object passed to the equals method is of another class with the same name. To compare the class of an object to the intended class, the getClass() method and the comparison operator "==" should be used to ensure the correct trusted class is used, as shown in the following example. (good code)
Example Language: Java
public boolean equals(Object obj) {
...
// first check to see if the object is of the same class if (obj.getClass() == this.getClass()) { ... }...
This MemberOf Relationships table shows additional CWE Categories 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.
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