Applying flow-sensitive CQUAL to verify MINIX authorization check placement

  • Authors:
  • Timothy Fraser;Nick L. Petroni, Jr.;William A. Arbaugh

  • Affiliations:
  • University of Maryland;University of Maryland;University of Maryland

  • Venue:
  • Proceedings of the 2006 workshop on Programming languages and analysis for security
  • Year:
  • 2006

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Abstract

We present the first use of flow-sensitive CQUAL to verify the placement of operating system authorization checks. Our analysis of MINIX 3 system servers and discovery of a non-exploitable Time-Of-Check/Time-Of-Use bug demonstrate the effectiveness of flow sensitive CQUAL and its advantage over earlier flow-insensitive versions. We also identify and suggest alternatives to current CQUAL usability features that encourage analysts to make omissions that cause the otherwise sound tool to produce false-negative results.