CWE-286: Incorrect User Management

ClassIncomplete

The product does not properly manage a user within its environment.

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Extended Description

Users can be assigned to the wrong group (class) of permissions resulting in unintended access rights to sensitive objects.

Technical Details

Structure
Simple

Applicable To

Languages
Not Language-Specific
Platforms

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CWE-286: Incorrect User Management?+

CWE-286: Incorrect User Management is a Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) entry maintained by MITRE. The product does not properly manage a user within its environment. Users can be assigned to the wrong group (class) of permissions resulting in unintended access rights to sensitive objects.

What are the security consequences of Incorrect User Management?+

If exploited, CWE-286 (Incorrect User Management) it can compromise Other, leading to outcomes such as Varies by Context.

Which programming languages are affected by Incorrect User Management?+

CWE-286 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 Incorrect User Management?+

MITRE documents real CVEs mapped to CWE-286, including CVE-2022-36109 and CVE-1999-1193. 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-286 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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