The storage of passwords in a recoverable format makes them subject to password reuse attacks by malicious users. In fact, it should be noted that recoverable encrypted passwords provide no significant benefit over plaintext passwords since they are subject not only to reuse by malicious attackers but also by malicious insiders. If a system administrator can recover a password directly, or use a brute force search on the available information, the administrator can use the password on other accounts.
View on MITREUser's passwords may be revealed.
Revealed passwords may be reused elsewhere to impersonate the users in question.
Use strong, non-reversible encryption to protect stored passwords.
No detection method information available for this CWE.
Both of these examples verify a password by comparing it to a stored compressed version.
Because a compression algorithm is used instead of a one way hashing algorithm, an attacker can recover compressed passwords stored in the database.
Both of these examples verify a password by comparing it to a stored compressed version.
Because a compression algorithm is used instead of a one way hashing algorithm, an attacker can recover compressed passwords stored in the database.
The following examples show a portion of properties and configuration files for Java and ASP.NET applications. The files include username and password information but they are stored in cleartext.
This Java example shows a properties file with a cleartext username / password pair.
The following examples show a portion of properties and configuration files for Java and ASP.NET applications. The files include username and password information but they are stored in cleartext.
This Java example shows a properties file with a cleartext username / password pair.
A messaging platform serializes all elements of User/Group objects, making private information available to adversaries
View DetailsNo relationship information available for this CWE.
CWE-257: Storing Passwords in a Recoverable Format is a Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) entry maintained by MITRE. The storage of passwords in a recoverable format makes them subject to password reuse attacks by malicious users. In fact, it should be noted that recoverable encrypted passwords provide no significant benefit over plaintext passwords since they are subject not only to reuse by malicious attackers but also by malicious insiders. If a system administrator can recover a password directly, or use a brute force search on the available information, the administrator can use the password on other accounts.
If exploited, CWE-257 (Storing Passwords in a Recoverable Format) it can compromise Confidentiality and Access Control, leading to outcomes such as Gain Privileges or Assume Identity.
Recommended mitigations for CWE-257 include: Use strong, non-reversible encryption to protect stored passwords.
CWE-257 commonly affects Not Language-Specific. Note that weaknesses are often language-agnostic patterns, so secure coding practices apply broadly.
MITRE documents real CVEs mapped to CWE-257, including CVE-2022-30018. You can look up the full details of each CVE, including CVSS scores and remediation guidance, on our CVE Lookup tool.
A CWE (Common Weakness Enumeration) like CWE-257 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.