CWE-1173: Improper Use of Validation Framework

Extended Description

Many modern coding languages provide developers with input validation frameworks to make the task of input validation easier and less error-prone. These frameworks will automatically check all input against specified criteria and direct execution to error handlers when invalid input is received. The improper use (i.e., an incorrect implementation or missing altogether) of these frameworks is not directly exploitable, but can lead to an exploitable condition if proper input validation is not performed later in the product. Not using provided input validation frameworks can also hurt the maintainability of code as future developers may not recognize the downstream input validation being used in the place of the validation framework.

Source-backed guidance

Additional facts reviewed against primary or authoritative security sources.

Verify controls for CWE-1173 with SSDF evidence

Use NIST SSDF verification and vulnerability-response practices to detect CWE-1173, Improper Use of Validation Framework, throughout the product lifecycle. Derive review questions, static or dynamic checks, and negative tests from the CWE's causal behavior; define the components and lifecycle stages each check covers; and retain findings with enough evidence to distinguish the root cause from symptoms and impacts. Track escapes and false negatives, then improve the verification plan after every confirmed occurrence.

NIST SP 800-218 Secure Software Development Framework — National Institute of Standards and Technology

Address Improper Use of Validation Framework during Implementation

MITRE associates mitigation with Implementation; documented detection approaches include Automated Static Analysis; recorded impacts include Unexpected State. Use these source-defined anchors to turn CWE-1173 into implementation, review, and verification checks for the affected component.

CWE-1173: Improper Use of Validation Framework — MITRE CWE

Triage CWE-1173 against known exploitation evidence

Use CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog to test whether a vulnerability mapped to CWE-1173, Improper Use of Validation Framework, 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 Catalog — Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency

Apply precise root-cause mapping to CWE-1173

Apply MITRE's full root-cause mapping guidance when using CWE-1173, Improper Use of Validation Framework. 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 Guidance — MITRE CWE

Validate CWE-1173 with root-cause mapping checks

Apply MITRE's root-cause mapping quick tips to CWE-1173, Improper Use of Validation Framework. 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 Tips — MITRE CWE

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CWE-1173: Improper Use of Validation Framework?+

CWE-1173: Improper Use of Validation Framework is a Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) entry maintained by MITRE. The product does not use, or incorrectly uses, an input validation framework that is provided by the source language or an independent library. Many modern coding languages provide developers with input validation frameworks to make the task of input validation easier and less error-prone. These frameworks will automatically check all input against specified criteria and direct execution to error handlers when invalid input is received. The improper use (i.e., an incorrect implementation or missing altogether) of these frameworks is not directly exploitable, but can lead to an exploitable condition if proper input validation is not performed later in the product. Not using provided input validation frameworks can also hurt the maintainability of code as future developers may not recognize the downstream input validation being used in the place of the validation framework.

What are the security consequences of Improper Use of Validation Framework?+

If exploited, CWE-1173 (Improper Use of Validation Framework) it can compromise Integrity, leading to outcomes such as Unexpected State.

How do you prevent or mitigate Improper Use of Validation Framework?+

Recommended mitigations for CWE-1173 include: Properly use provided input validation frameworks.

Which programming languages are affected by Improper Use of Validation Framework?+

CWE-1173 commonly affects 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-1173 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.

CWE-1173: Improper Use of Validation Framework

Extended Description

Technical Details

Applicable To

Security Consequences

Scope

Impact

Mitigation Strategies

Phase

Description

Detection Methods

Code Examples & CVEs

CWE Relationships

Parent Weaknesses