Microsoft.Windows.SDK.CPP

Problem

Private keys are used to protect sensitive information, digitally sign content, and to secure information transmission. Private keys are considered secrets, and as such should never be published. Depending on the private key type its exposure can carry a varying degree of risk. While it is common for private keys to be found as standalone files, the detected ones have been found embedded within another software package component. This could indicate an attempt to hide private key presence. Attackers abuse private keys to gain unauthorized server access, decrypt sensitive information, digitally sign content, or impersonate users whose private keys have been leaked.

Problem

Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) is a vulnerability mitigation option that forces software components to load on a different memory base address each time they are used. This mitigation is detected as enabled, but rendered ineffective due to the lack of code relocations necessary for layout randomization. This issue is reported for native 32-bit applications that contain code and opt in to use ASLR. Reasons for relocation absence include forcing software component load on a fixed address, removing relocations post-build, and using non-ASLR-compliant executable packing solutions.

Problem

Security Development Lifecycle (SDL) is a group of enhanced compile-time checks that report common coding mistakes as errors, preventing them from reaching production. These checks minimize the number of security issues by enforcing strict memory access checks. They also prevent the use of hard-to-secure string and memory manipulation functions. To prove the binary has been compiled with these checks enabled, the compiler emits a special debug object. Removing the debug table eliminates this proof. Therefore, this check only applies to binaries that still have their debug tables.

Problem

Software components contain executable code that performs actions implemented during its development. These actions are called behaviors. In the analysis report, behaviors are presented as human-readable descriptions that best match the underlying code intent. While most behaviors are benign, some are commonly abused by malicious software with the intent to cause harm. When a software package shares behavior traits with malicious software, it may become flagged by security solutions. Any detection from security solutions can cause friction for the end-users during software deployment. While the behavior is likely intended by the developer, there is a small chance this detection is true positive, and an early indication of a software supply chain attack.

Problem

Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) are structured addresses that point to locations and assets on the internet. URLs allow software developers to build complex applications that exchange data with servers that can be hosted in multiple geographical regions. URLs can commonly be found embedded in documentation, configuration files, source code and compiled binaries. URL paths provide additional information to a web service when making a request. They are an optional, but an important part of the URL, as they may define specific content or actions based on the data being passed. Some parameters they pass might be considered sensitive information. Since path components are not encrypted this might cause sensitive information to leak. This issue is raised for URL paths than might contain information that attackers can easily intercept. Examples of sensitive information fields include passwords and other similar parameters.