CWE-1038: Insecure Automated Optimizations
The product uses a mechanism that automatically optimizes code, e.g. to improve a characteristic such as performance, but the optimizations can have an unintended side effect that might violate an intended security assumption.
View on MITRETechnical Details
- Structure
- Simple
Applicable To
Security Consequences
Scope
Impact
The optimizations alter the order of execution resulting in side effects that were not intended by the original developer.
Mitigation Strategies
No mitigation information available for this CWE.
Detection Methods
No detection method information available for this CWE.
Code Examples & CVEs
Observed CVE Examples (2)
Intel, ARM, and AMD processor optimizations related to speculative execution and branch prediction cause access control checks to be bypassed when placing data into the cache. Often known as "Spectre".
View DetailsC compiler optimization, as allowed by specifications, removes code that is used to perform checks to detect integer overflows.
View DetailsCWE Relationships
No relationship information available for this CWE.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CWE-1038: Insecure Automated Optimizations?+
CWE-1038: Insecure Automated Optimizations is a Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) entry maintained by MITRE. The product uses a mechanism that automatically optimizes code, e.g. to improve a characteristic such as performance, but the optimizations can have an unintended side effect that might violate an intended security assumption.
What are the security consequences of Insecure Automated Optimizations?+
If exploited, CWE-1038 (Insecure Automated Optimizations) it can compromise Integrity, leading to outcomes such as Alter Execution Logic.
Which programming languages are affected by Insecure Automated Optimizations?+
CWE-1038 commonly affects Not Language-Specific. Note that weaknesses are often language-agnostic patterns, so secure coding practices apply broadly.
What are real-world examples of Insecure Automated Optimizations?+
MITRE documents real CVEs mapped to CWE-1038, including CVE-2017-5715 and CVE-2008-1685. You can look up the full details of each CVE, including CVSS scores and remediation guidance, on our CVE Lookup tool.
What is the difference between a CWE and a CVE?+
A CWE (Common Weakness Enumeration) like CWE-1038 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.