CAPEC Definitions

    CAPEC Definitions / CAPEC-141

    CAPEC-141: Cache Poisoning

    An attacker exploits the functionality of cache technologies to cause specific data to be cached that aids the attackers' objectives. This describes any attack whereby an attacker places incorrect or harmful material in cache. The targeted cache can be an application's cache (e.g. a web browser cache) or a public cache (e.g. a DNS or ARP cache). Until the cache is refreshed, most applications or clients will treat the corrupted cache value as valid. This can lead to a wide range of exploits including redirecting web browsers towards sites that install malware and repeatedly incorrect calculations based on the incorrect value.

    Severity:High
    Possibility:High

    Extended Description

    No Extended Description.

    Mitigations

    Configuration: Disable client side caching.

    Implementation: Listens for query replies on a network, and sends a notification via email when an entry changes.

    Relationships with other CAPECs

    CAPEC-161: Infrastructure Manipulation

    Prerequisites

    The attacker must be able to modify the value stored in a cache to match a desired value.

    The targeted application must not be able to detect the illicit modification of the cache and must trust the cache value in its calculations.

    Related Weaknesses

    CWE-348: Use of Less Trusted Source

    CWE-345: Insufficient Verification of Data Authenticity

    CWE-349: Acceptance of Extraneous Untrusted Data With Trusted Data

    CWE-346: Origin Validation Error