Covert Timing Channel
Covert Timing Channel
CWE-385
Overtime trend (NVD)
CVSS severity (NVD, All Time)
Per technology (GHSA, All time)
- 42%-Pip
- 28%-Rust
- 28%-Maven
Short description
Extended description
In some instances, knowing when data is transmitted between parties can provide a malicious user with privileged information. Also, externally monitoring the timing of operations can potentially reveal sensitive data. For example, a cryptographic operation can expose its internal state if the time it takes to perform the operation varies, based on the state.
Covert channels are frequently classified as either storage or timing channels. Some examples of covert timing channels are the system's paging rate, the time a certain transaction requires to execute, and the time it takes to gain access to a shared bus.
Best practices to prevent this CWE
Phase: Architecture and Design
Whenever possible, specify implementation strategies that do not introduce time variances in operations.
Phase: Implementation
Often one can artificially manipulate the time which operations take or -- when operations occur -- can remove information from the attacker.
Phase: Implementation
It is reasonable to add artificial or random delays so that the amount of CPU time consumed is independent of the action being taken by the application.
