CWE-1287: Improper Validation of Specified Type of Input

BaseIncomplete

The product receives input that is expected to be of a certain type, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input is actually of the expected type.

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Extended Description

When input does not comply with the expected type, attackers could trigger unexpected errors, cause incorrect actions to take place, or exploit latent vulnerabilities that would not be possible if the input conformed with the expected type. This weakness can appear in type-unsafe programming languages, or in programming languages that support casting or conversion of an input to another type.

Technical Details

Structure
Simple

Applicable To

Languages
Not Language-Specific
Platforms

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CWE-1287: Improper Validation of Specified Type of Input?+

CWE-1287: Improper Validation of Specified Type of Input is a Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) entry maintained by MITRE. The product receives input that is expected to be of a certain type, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input is actually of the expected type. When input does not comply with the expected type, attackers could trigger unexpected errors, cause incorrect actions to take place, or exploit latent vulnerabilities that would not be possible if the input conformed with the expected type. This weakness can appear in type-unsafe programming languages, or in programming languages that support casting or conversion of an input to another type.

What are the security consequences of Improper Validation of Specified Type of Input?+

If exploited, CWE-1287 (Improper Validation of Specified Type of Input) it can compromise Other, leading to outcomes such as Varies by Context.

Which programming languages are affected by Improper Validation of Specified Type of Input?+

CWE-1287 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 Improper Validation of Specified Type of Input?+

MITRE documents real CVEs mapped to CWE-1287, including CVE-2024-37032 and CVE-2008-2223. 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-1287 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.

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