The authentication algorithm is sound, but the implemented mechanism can be bypassed as the result of a separate weakness that is primary to the authentication error.
View on MITRENo mitigation information available for this CWE.
No detection method information available for this CWE.
The provided password is only compared against the first character of the real password.
View DetailsThe password is not properly checked, which allows remote attackers to bypass access controls by sending a 1-byte password that matches the first character of the real password.
View DetailsChain: Forum software does not properly initialize an array, which inadvertently sets the password to a single character, allowing remote attackers to easily guess the password and gain administrative privileges.
View DetailsCWE-305: Authentication Bypass by Primary Weakness is a Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) entry maintained by MITRE. The authentication algorithm is sound, but the implemented mechanism can be bypassed as the result of a separate weakness that is primary to the authentication error.
If exploited, CWE-305 (Authentication Bypass by Primary Weakness) it can compromise Access Control, leading to outcomes such as Bypass Protection Mechanism.
CWE-305 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-305, including CVE-2002-1374, CVE-2000-0979 and CVE-2001-0088. 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-305 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.