CWE-914

Improper Control of Dynamically-Identified Variables

Weakness 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.

Potential Mitigations

Implementation

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

ImplementationArchitecture and Design

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

Common Consequences

Integrity
Modify Application Data

An attacker could modify sensitive data or program variables.

Integrity
Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands
OtherIntegrity
Varies by ContextAlter Execution Logic
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