CWE-1024: Comparison of Incompatible Types

BaseIncomplete

The product performs a comparison between two entities, but the entities are of different, incompatible types that cannot be guaranteed to provide correct results when they are directly compared.

View on MITRE
Back to CWE Lookup

Technical Details

Structure
Simple
Vulnerability Mapping
ALLOWED

Applicable To

Languages
JavaScriptPHPNot Language-Specific
Platforms

Source-backed guidance

Additional facts reviewed against primary or authoritative security sources.

Detect Comparison of Incompatible Types with Automated Static Analysis

Documented detection approaches include Automated Static Analysis, and Manual Static Analysis; recorded impacts include Varies by Context; related weaknesses include CWE-697. Use these source-defined anchors to turn CWE-1024 into implementation, review, and verification checks for the affected component.

CWE-1024: Comparison of Incompatible TypesMITRE CWE

Prevent CWE-1024 through an SSDF control plan

Use NIST SSDF practices to make prevention of CWE-1024, Comparison of Incompatible Types, an explicit development outcome. Translate the CWE definition into security requirements and design constraints, choose safer implementation patterns and toolchain checks, and define acceptance evidence before release. Feed every confirmed occurrence back into the requirements, design review, and coding rules so the same root cause is removed across the product rather than patched in one location.

NIST SP 800-218 Secure Software Development FrameworkNational Institute of Standards and Technology

Triage CWE-1024 against known exploitation evidence

Use CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog to test whether a vulnerability mapped to CWE-1024, Comparison of Incompatible Types, has evidence of exploitation in the wild. Confirm the CVE-to-CWE root-cause mapping independently before attaching the example, then capture the affected product, required action, and remediation deadline. A missing KEV match is not evidence that the weakness is unexploited, and a KEV entry must not be generalized to every occurrence of this CWE.

Known Exploited Vulnerabilities CatalogCybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency

Apply precise root-cause mapping to CWE-1024

Apply MITRE's full root-cause mapping guidance when using CWE-1024, Comparison of Incompatible Types. Separate weakness language from attacker prerequisites and technical impact, check the entry's abstraction and vulnerability-mapping notes, and prefer the most specific Base or Variant supported by the evidence. Record the rejected alternatives and require an independent review before the mapping is used for remediation trends or program metrics.

CVE to CWE Root Cause Mapping GuidanceMITRE CWE

Validate CWE-1024 with root-cause mapping checks

Apply MITRE's root-cause mapping quick tips to CWE-1024, Comparison of Incompatible Types. Confirm the finding describes the causal weakness rather than an impact or attack pattern, compare the abstraction and mapping notes with plausible alternatives, and have a second reviewer challenge the selection. Preserve the evidence and reasoning so recurring defects can be measured against one consistent identifier.

CVE to CWE Root Cause Mapping Quick TipsMITRE CWE

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CWE-1024: Comparison of Incompatible Types?+

CWE-1024: Comparison of Incompatible Types is a Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) entry maintained by MITRE. The product performs a comparison between two entities, but the entities are of different, incompatible types that cannot be guaranteed to provide correct results when they are directly compared.

What are the security consequences of Comparison of Incompatible Types?+

If exploited, CWE-1024 (Comparison of Incompatible Types) it can compromise Other, leading to outcomes such as Varies by Context.

How is Comparison of Incompatible Types detected?+

CWE-1024 can be detected using Manual Static Analysis. Combining automated tooling with manual review typically yields the best coverage.

Which programming languages are affected by Comparison of Incompatible Types?+

CWE-1024 commonly affects JavaScript, PHP and Not Language-Specific. Note that weaknesses are often language-agnostic patterns, so secure coding practices apply broadly.

What is the difference between a CWE and a CVE?+

A CWE (Common Weakness Enumeration) like CWE-1024 describes a category of software weakness — the underlying flaw type. A CVE (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures) identifies a specific, real-world vulnerability in a particular product. In short, a CWE is the kind of mistake, and a CVE is an instance of that mistake being found in software.

Learn More

Advertisement