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Covert channel definition conflicts regarding steganography

Çağlar Arlı      -    74 Views

Covert channel definition conflicts regarding steganography

I'm under the impression that stegonographic manipulation of file names or packet timing would qualify as a storage covert channel and a timing covert channel respectively.

I came across this seemingly contradictory quote (without citation) on the Covert Channel Wikipedia page:

Covert channels are distinct from, and often confused with, legitimate channel exploitations that attack low-assurance pseudo-secure systems using schemes such as steganography or even less sophisticated schemes to disguise prohibited objects inside of legitimate information objects.

However, CWE's Covert Channel definition specifically gives stegenography as an example of a storage covert channel technique.

Steganography, concealing information in such a manner that no one but the intended recipient knows of the existence of the message, is a good example of a covert storage channel.

Is one definition incorrect or is this an arguable matter of definition? Does steganography apply to both, one, or neither of these types of covert channels?

(For context, I am studying for the CISSP and looking for additional contexts/examples as my study materials do not go into this level of detail.)