CWE-66

Improper Handling of File Names that Identify Virtual Resources
AI Translation Available

The product does not handle or incorrectly handles a file name that identifies a 'virtual' resource that is not directly specified within the directory that is associated with the file name, causing the product to perform file-based operations on a resource that is not a file.

Status
draft
Abstraction
base

Virtual file names are represented like normal file names, but they are effectively aliases for other resources that do not behave like normal files. Depending on their functionality, they could be alternate entities. They are not necessarily listed in directories.

Common Consequences

other
Impacts
other

Detection Methods

automated static analysis - binary or bytecode manual static analysis - binary or bytecode dynamic analysis with automated results interpretation dynamic analysis with manual results interpretation manual static analysis - source code automated static analysis - source code architecture or design review

Potential Mitigations

Functional Areas

file processing