CWE-145: Improper Neutralization of Section Delimiters
The product receives input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could be interpreted as section delimiters when they are sent to a downstream component.
View on MITREExtended Description
As data is parsed, an injected/absent/malformed delimiter may cause the process to take unexpected actions. One example of a section delimiter is the boundary string in a multipart MIME message. In many cases, doubled line delimiters can serve as a section delimiter.
Technical Details
- Structure
- Simple
Applicable To
Security Consequences
Scope
Impact
Mitigation Strategies
Phase
Description
Developers should anticipate that section delimiters will be injected/removed/manipulated in the input vectors of their product. Use an appropriate combination of denylists and allowlists to ensure only valid, expected and appropriate input is processed by the system.
Detection Methods
No detection method information available for this CWE.
Code Examples & CVEs
No examples or observed CVEs available for this CWE.
CWE Relationships
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CWE-145: Improper Neutralization of Section Delimiters?+
CWE-145: Improper Neutralization of Section Delimiters is a Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) entry maintained by MITRE. The product receives input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could be interpreted as section delimiters when they are sent to a downstream component. As data is parsed, an injected/absent/malformed delimiter may cause the process to take unexpected actions. One example of a section delimiter is the boundary string in a multipart MIME message. In many cases, doubled line delimiters can serve as a section delimiter.
What are the security consequences of Improper Neutralization of Section Delimiters?+
If exploited, CWE-145 (Improper Neutralization of Section Delimiters) it can compromise Integrity, leading to outcomes such as Unexpected State.
How do you prevent or mitigate Improper Neutralization of Section Delimiters?+
Recommended mitigations for CWE-145 include: Developers should anticipate that section delimiters will be injected/removed/manipulated in the input vectors of their product. Use an appropriate combination of denylists and allowlists to ensure only valid, expected and appropriate input is processed by the system.
Which programming languages are affected by Improper Neutralization of Section Delimiters?+
CWE-145 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-145 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.