CWE-1273: Device Unlock Credential Sharing

Extended Description

"Unlocking a device" often means activating certain unadvertised debug and manufacturer-specific capabilities of a device using sensitive credentials. Unlocking a device might be necessary for the purpose of troubleshooting device problems. For example, suppose a device contains the ability to dump the content of the full system memory by disabling the memory-protection mechanisms. Since this is a highly security-sensitive capability, this capability is "locked" in the production part. Unless the device gets unlocked by supplying the proper credentials, the debug capabilities are not available. For cases where the chip designer, chip manufacturer (fabricator), and manufacturing and assembly testers are all employed by the same company, the risk of compromise of the credentials is greatly reduced. However, the risk is greater when the chip designer is employed by one company, the chip manufacturer is employed by another company (a foundry), and the assemblers and testers are employed by yet a third company. Since these different companies will need to perform various tests on the device to verify correct device function, they all need to share the unlock key. Unfortunately, the level of secrecy and policy might be quite different at each company, greatly increasing the risk of sensitive credentials being compromised.

Code Examples & CVEs

Demonstrative Examples

This example shows how an attacker can take advantage of compromised credentials.

When the credentials of multiple organizations are stored together, exposure to third parties occurs frequently.

BadOther

Suppose a semiconductor chipmaker, "C", uses the foundry "F" for fabricating its chips. Now, F has many other customers in addition to C, and some of the other customers are much smaller companies. F has dedicated teams for each of its customers, but somehow it mixes up the unlock credentials and sends the unlock credentials of C to the wrong team. This other team does not take adequate precautions to protect the credentials that have nothing to do with them, and eventually the unlock credentials of C get leaked.

This example shows how an attacker can take advantage of compromised credentials.

When the credentials of multiple organizations are stored together, exposure to third parties occurs frequently.

GoodOther

Vertical integration of a production company is one effective method of protecting sensitive credentials. Where vertical integration is not possible, strict access control and need-to-know are methods which can be implemented to reduce these risks.

Source-backed guidance

Additional facts reviewed against primary or authoritative security sources.

Verify controls for CWE-1273 with SSDF evidence

Use NIST SSDF verification and vulnerability-response practices to detect CWE-1273, Device Unlock Credential Sharing, throughout the product lifecycle. Derive review questions, static or dynamic checks, and negative tests from the CWE's causal behavior; define the components and lifecycle stages each check covers; and retain findings with enough evidence to distinguish the root cause from symptoms and impacts. Track escapes and false negatives, then improve the verification plan after every confirmed occurrence.

NIST SP 800-218 Secure Software Development Framework — National Institute of Standards and Technology

Address Device Unlock Credential Sharing during Integration

MITRE associates mitigation with Integration, and Manufacturing; recorded impacts include Modify Memory, Read Memory, Modify Files or Directories, Read Files or Directories, and Modify Application Data; the entry maps to CAPEC-560. Use these source-defined anchors to turn CWE-1273 into implementation, review, and verification checks for the affected component.

CWE-1273: Device Unlock Credential Sharing — MITRE CWE

Triage CWE-1273 against known exploitation evidence

Use CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog to test whether a vulnerability mapped to CWE-1273, Device Unlock Credential Sharing, has evidence of exploitation in the wild. Confirm the CVE-to-CWE root-cause mapping independently before attaching the example, then capture the affected product, required action, and remediation deadline. A missing KEV match is not evidence that the weakness is unexploited, and a KEV entry must not be generalized to every occurrence of this CWE.

Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog — Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency

Apply precise root-cause mapping to CWE-1273

Apply MITRE's full root-cause mapping guidance when using CWE-1273, Device Unlock Credential Sharing. Separate weakness language from attacker prerequisites and technical impact, check the entry's abstraction and vulnerability-mapping notes, and prefer the most specific Base or Variant supported by the evidence. Record the rejected alternatives and require an independent review before the mapping is used for remediation trends or program metrics.

CVE to CWE Root Cause Mapping Guidance — MITRE CWE

Validate CWE-1273 with root-cause mapping checks

Apply MITRE's root-cause mapping quick tips to CWE-1273, Device Unlock Credential Sharing. Confirm the finding describes the causal weakness rather than an impact or attack pattern, compare the abstraction and mapping notes with plausible alternatives, and have a second reviewer challenge the selection. Preserve the evidence and reasoning so recurring defects can be measured against one consistent identifier.

CVE to CWE Root Cause Mapping Quick Tips — MITRE CWE

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CWE-1273: Device Unlock Credential Sharing?+

CWE-1273: Device Unlock Credential Sharing is a Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) entry maintained by MITRE. The credentials necessary for unlocking a device are shared across multiple parties and may expose sensitive information. "Unlocking a device" often means activating certain unadvertised debug and manufacturer-specific capabilities of a device using sensitive credentials. Unlocking a device might be necessary for the purpose of troubleshooting device problems. For example, suppose a device contains the ability to dump the content of the full system memory by disabling the memory-protection mechanisms. Since this is a highly security-sensitive capability, this capability is "locked" in the production part. Unless the device gets unlocked by supplying the proper credentials, the debug capabilities are not available. For cases where the chip designer, chip manufacturer (fabricator), and manufacturing and assembly testers are all employed by the same company, the risk of compromise of the credentials is greatly reduced. However, the risk is greater when the chip designer is employed by one company, the chip manufacturer is employed by another company (a foundry), and the assemblers and testers are employed by yet a third company. Since these different companies will need to perform various tests on the device to verify correct device function, they all need to share the unlock key. Unfortunately, the level of secrecy and policy might be quite different at each company, greatly increasing the risk of sensitive credentials being compromised.

What are the security consequences of Device Unlock Credential Sharing?+

If exploited, CWE-1273 (Device Unlock Credential Sharing) it can compromise Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability, Access Control, Accountability and Authentication, leading to outcomes such as Modify Memory, Read Memory, Modify Files or Directories, Read Files or Directories, Modify Application Data and Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands.

How do you prevent or mitigate Device Unlock Credential Sharing?+

Recommended mitigations for CWE-1273 include: Ensure the unlock credentials are shared with the minimum number of parties and with utmost secrecy. To limit the risk associated with compromised credentials, where possible, the credentials should be part-specific. Ensure the unlock credentials are shared with the minimum number of parties and with utmost secrecy. To limit the risk associated with compromised credentials, where possible, the credentials should be part-specific.

Which programming languages are affected by Device Unlock Credential Sharing?+

CWE-1273 commonly affects VHDL, Verilog and Compiled. Note that weaknesses are often language-agnostic patterns, so secure coding practices apply broadly.

What is the difference between a CWE and a CVE?+

A CWE (Common Weakness Enumeration) like CWE-1273 describes a category of software weakness — the underlying flaw type. A CVE (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures) identifies a specific, real-world vulnerability in a particular product. In short, a CWE is the kind of mistake, and a CVE is an instance of that mistake being found in software.

CWE-1273: Device Unlock Credential Sharing

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