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#8 A08:2021

Software and Data Integrity Failures

Software and data integrity failures relate to code and infrastructure that does not protect against integrity violations, including insecure deserialization.

Overview

A new category for 2021, focuses on making assumptions related to software updates, critical data, and CI/CD pipelines without verifying integrity. Also includes Insecure Deserialization from 2017.

How Attackers Exploit This

Understanding attack patterns helps you build better defenses. These are the techniques security teams watch for.

Insecure deserialization

Untrusted data is deserialized by the application, potentially leading to remote code execution.

Detection signal: Serialized object patterns in requests, unexpected class instantiation errors

CI/CD pipeline compromise

Attackers inject malicious code through compromised build systems or update mechanisms.

Detection signal: Unexpected changes in build outputs, modified binaries without corresponding source changes

How to Prevent

  • Use digital signatures to verify software or data is from expected source
  • Ensure libraries and dependencies are from trusted repositories
  • Use software supply chain security tools to verify components
  • Ensure CI/CD pipeline has proper segregation and access control
  • Ensure unsigned or unencrypted serialized data is not sent to untrusted clients

CWEs with Shoulder Detection (2)

These CWEs have Shoulder detection rules. Click to see specific vulnerabilities and fixes.

Other Mapped CWEs (8)

These CWEs are mapped to this category. Use MITRE references for guidance.