LLMSecForge/code-attack-vectors.md

# Code-Based Adversarial Attack Vectors

This document provides a comprehensive classification and analysis of adversarial attack vectors that operate through code-based inputs and outputs, representing a high-impact modality for AI system security.

## Fundamental Categories

Code-based attacks are organized into three fundamental categories:

1. **Execution Vector Attacks**: Attacks targeting code execution environments
2. **Syntax Manipulation Attacks**: Attacks exploiting code parsing and interpretation
3. **Interpreter Exploitation Attacks**: Attacks leveraging runtime interpretation vulnerabilities

## 1. Execution Vector Classification

Execution vectors target how code is run within constrained environments.

### 1.1 Sandbox Escape Techniques

Attacks that attempt to break out of code execution sandboxes:

| Attack Class | Description | Implementation Variants |
|--------------|-------------|------------------------|
| Resource Access Exploitation | Leverages legitimate resource access to escape containment | File system traversal, network socket abuse, environment variable exploitation |
| Execution Context Manipulation | Manipulates the execution context to gain privileged access | Context switching tricks, environment tampering, runtime configuration exploitation |
| Indirect Command Execution | Uses legitimate features to execute unintended commands | Shell command construction, system call chaining, interpreter switching |
| Sandbox Implementation Attacks | Targets specific vulnerabilities in sandbox implementations | Memory boundary violations, process isolation weaknesses, container escape techniques |

### 1.2 Code Injection Patterns

Techniques for injecting malicious code into execution flows:

| Attack Class | Description | Implementation Variants |
|--------------|-------------|------------------------|
| Direct Code Injection | Directly inserts executable code into processing flows | String concatenation exploits, template injection, dynamic evaluation abuse |
| Indirect Code Construction | Builds malicious code through seemingly benign operations | Character combination, string manipulation, runtime code assembly |
| Library/Package Abuse | Leverages legitimate libraries for unintended purposes | Dependency hijacking, library function repurposing, package functionality abuse |
| Meta-Programming Exploitation | Uses language meta-programming features for injection | Reflection abuse, meta-object manipulation, runtime code modification |

### 1.3 Runtime Manipulation

Attacks that manipulate program execution at runtime:

| Attack Class | Description | Implementation Variants |
|--------------|-------------|------------------------|
| Control Flow Hijacking | Alters the flow of execution | Exception handling abuse, callback manipulation, event loop exploitation |
| Memory Manipulation | Exploits memory management | Buffer manipulation, variable scope abuse, memory addressing tricks |
| State Persistence Attacks | Maintains malicious state between executions | Global state pollution, cache poisoning, persistent storage abuse |
| Timing-Based Exploitation | Leverages execution timing characteristics | Race condition exploitation, timeout manipulation, asynchronous execution abuse |

## 2. Syntax Manipulation Vector Classification

Syntax manipulation vectors exploit how code is parsed and interpreted.

### 2.1 Parser Exploitation

Attacks that target code parsing mechanisms:

| Attack Class | Description | Implementation Variants |
|--------------|-------------|------------------------|
| Syntactic Ambiguity | Creates code with multiple possible interpretations | Grammar ambiguity exploitation, parser differential attacks, syntax edge cases |
| Lexical Analysis Manipulation | Exploits how code is tokenized | Comment/string boundary abuse, whitespace manipulation, Unicode character tricks |
| Parser State Exploitation | Manipulates parser internal state | Incremental parsing attacks, context-sensitive grammar abuse, parser mode switching |
| Language Feature Abuse | Exploits obscure language features | Operator overloading abuse, meta-syntax exploitation, language extension misuse |

### 2.2 Code Obfuscation Techniques

Methods to hide malicious intent within code:

| Attack Class | Description | Implementation Variants |
|--------------|-------------|------------------------|
| Semantic-Preserving Transformation | Transforms code while maintaining functionality | Equivalent instruction substitution, control flow flattening, dead code insertion |
| Encoding-Based Obfuscation | Uses various encoding techniques to hide code | String encoding, ASCII/Unicode manipulation, multi-encoding layering |
| Dynamic Code Generation | Generates malicious code at runtime | Eval-based generation, just-in-time compilation abuse, runtime string assembly |
| Polymorphic Code | Code that changes its appearance while maintaining function | Self-modifying techniques, contextual transformation, environment-sensitive mutation |

### 2.3 Multi-Language Exploitation

Attacks that leverage interactions between multiple languages:

| Attack Class | Description | Implementation Variants |
|--------------|-------------|------------------------|
| Language Boundary Attacks | Exploits transitions between languages | Mixed language injection, escaping context switching, inter-language parsing confusion |
| Polyglot Exploitation | Creates code valid in multiple languages | Dual-language valid code, context-dependent interpretation, language detection manipulation |
| Embedding Context Confusion | Exploits how one language is embedded in another | Template language confusion, string delimiter exploitation, comment/code boundary abuse |
| Cross-Language Data Flow | Manipulates data flow across language boundaries | Parameter passing exploitation, serialization attacks, cross-language type confusion |

## 3. Interpreter Exploitation Vector Classification

Interpreter exploitation vectors target the runtime environment that executes code.

### 3.1 Runtime Environment Attacks

Attacks targeting the runtime execution environment:

| Attack Class | Description | Implementation Variants |
|--------------|-------------|------------------------|
| Interpreter State Manipulation | Manipulates interpreter internal state | Environment variable poisoning, global object modification, interpreter flag exploitation |
| Module/Library Hijacking | Redirects or manipulates code imports | Import path manipulation, module substitution, dynamic loading exploitation |
| Configuration Exploitation | Targets runtime configuration mechanisms | Configuration override, initialization sequence abuse, runtime option manipulation |
| Extension/Plugin Abuse | Leverages interpreter extensions | Extension API exploitation, plugin capability abuse, custom extension loading |

### 3.2 Language-Specific Vulnerabilities

Attacks exploiting features specific to certain languages:

| Attack Class | Description | Implementation Variants |
|--------------|-------------|------------------------|
| Dynamic Typing Exploitation | Exploits dynamic type systems | Type confusion attacks, type coercion abuse, duck typing exploitation |
| Metaprogramming Abuse | Misuses language metaprogramming features | Reflection attacks, code generation exploitation, meta-object protocol abuse |
| Prototype/Class Manipulation | Manipulates object-oriented features | Prototype pollution, inheritance exploitation, method overriding attacks |
| Language-Specific Features | Targets unique language constructs | List comprehension abuse, decorator exploitation, generator manipulation |

### 3.3 Tool Chain Vulnerabilities

Attacks targeting the broader development and execution environment:

| Attack Class | Description | Implementation Variants |
|--------------|-------------|------------------------|
| Build System Exploitation | Targets code build processes | Makefile abuse, build script injection, compilation flag manipulation |
| Package Management Attacks | Exploits package ecosystems | Dependency confusion, package name typosquatting, version pinning exploitation |
| Development Tool Manipulation | Targets IDEs and development tools | Snippet exploitation, autocomplete manipulation, editor plugin abuse |
| Runtime Environment Targeting | Exploits specific runtime environments | Container escape, serverless function context manipulation, cloud environment exploitation |

## Advanced Implementation Techniques

Beyond the basic classification, several advanced techniques enhance code-based attacks:

### Evasion Strategies

| Technique | Description | Example |
|-----------|-------------|---------|
| Detection Avoidance | Evades security monitoring | Signature evasion, behavioral normalization, analysis tool detection |
| Multi-Stage Execution | Splits attack into seemingly benign stages | Staged payload delivery, progressive privilege escalation, context-dependent execution |
| Environmental Awareness | Adapts based on execution environment | Sandbox detection, monitoring detection, target-specific conditioning |

### Social Engineering Integration

| Technique | Description | Example |
|-----------|-------------|---------|
| Legitimate-Looking Code | Creates malicious code that appears legitimate | Coding style mimicry, documentation deception, plausible functionality |
| Trojan Code Patterns | Hides malicious functionality behind useful features | Feature-based trojan horses, backdoored utilities, compromised libraries |
| Authority-Based Deception | Uses apparent authority to justify code execution | Maintenance script disguises, update procedure mimicry, diagnostic tool deception |

## Model-Specific Vulnerabilities

Different code processing models exhibit unique vulnerabilities:

| Model Type | Vulnerability Patterns | Attack Focus |
|------------|------------------------|--------------|
| Code Completion Models | Completion prediction manipulation, context window poisoning | Malicious completion induction, harmful suggestion seeding |
| Code Analysis Systems | Static analysis evasion, false positive/negative manipulation | Analysis tool confusion, security check bypassing |
| Automated Code Review | Review criteria manipulation, false security assurance | Review standard evasion, automated approval exploitation |
| Code Translation Models | Semantic preservation attacks, language-specific feature abuse | Translation vulnerability introduction, cross-language attack vectors |

## Cross-Modal Attack Patterns

Code-based attacks often interact with other modalities:

| Cross-Modal Pattern | Description | Example |
|---------------------|-------------|---------|
| Text-to-Code Injection | Uses natural language to induce code vulnerabilities | Natural language prompt engineering, comment-based manipulation |
| Documentation-Code Mismatch | Creates deceptive misalignment between docs and code | Misleading documentation, deceptive code comments, hidden functionality |
| UI-Code Interaction Attacks | Exploits the boundary between UI and code | Interface-driven code injection, visual-coding environment attacks |
| Notebook Environment Attacks | Targets interactive coding environments | Cell execution order manipulation, kernel state exploitation, mixed-content attacks |

## Research Directions

Key areas for ongoing research in code-based attack vectors:

1. **Language Feature Exploitation**: How language-specific features create unique vulnerabilities
2. **Cross-Language Attack Transfer**: How attacks transfer between programming languages
3. **Model Architecture Influence**: How different code processing architectures affect vulnerability
4. **Tool Chain Security**: Securing the broader development and execution environment
5. **Automated Vulnerability Generation**: Using AI to discover new code-based vulnerabilities

## Defense Considerations

Effective defense against code-based attacks requires:

1. **Multi-Level Code Analysis**: Examining code at lexical, syntactic, and semantic levels
2. **Runtime Monitoring**: Implementing execution monitoring and anomaly detection
3. **Sandboxed Execution**: Enforcing strong isolation and resource constraints
4. **Context-Aware Validation**: Validating code within its execution context
5. **Static and Dynamic Analysis**: Combining pre-execution and runtime analysis techniques

For detailed examples of each attack vector and implementation guidance, refer to the appendices and case studies in the associated documentation.