CWE-318: Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information in Executable

VariantDraft

The product stores sensitive information in cleartext in an executable.

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Extended Description

Attackers can reverse engineer binary code to obtain secret data. This is especially easy when the cleartext is plain ASCII. Even if the information is encoded in a way that is not human-readable, certain techniques could determine which encoding is being used, then decode the information.

Technical Details

Structure
Simple
Vulnerability Mapping
ALLOWED

Applicable To

Languages
Not Language-Specific
Platforms

Source-backed guidance

Additional facts reviewed against primary or authoritative security sources.

Verify controls for CWE-318 with SSDF evidence

Use NIST SSDF verification and vulnerability-response practices to detect CWE-318, Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information in Executable, throughout the product lifecycle. Derive review questions, static or dynamic checks, and negative tests from the CWE's causal behavior; define the components and lifecycle stages each check covers; and retain findings with enough evidence to distinguish the root cause from symptoms and impacts. Track escapes and false negatives, then improve the verification plan after every confirmed occurrence.

NIST SP 800-218 Secure Software Development Framework — National Institute of Standards and Technology

Make elimination of CWE-318 a product outcome

Apply CISA's Secure by Design principle of taking ownership of customer security outcomes to CWE-318, Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information in Executable. Put the weakness in the product threat model and security roadmap, fund class-level design and platform changes, prefer safe defaults and reusable guardrails, and publish measurable progress. Do not transfer the primary burden to customer configuration when the manufacturer can remove or contain the root cause in the product.

Shifting the Balance of Cybersecurity Risk: Secure by Design Software — Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency

Connect Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information in Executable to documented attack evidence

Recorded impacts include Read Application Data; the entry maps to CAPEC-37, and CAPEC-65; observed examples include CVE-2005-1794, and CVE-2001-1527. Use these source-defined anchors to turn CWE-318 into implementation, review, and verification checks for the affected component.

CWE-318: Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information in Executable — MITRE CWE

Apply precise root-cause mapping to CWE-318

Apply MITRE's full root-cause mapping guidance when using CWE-318, Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information in Executable. Separate weakness language from attacker prerequisites and technical impact, check the entry's abstraction and vulnerability-mapping notes, and prefer the most specific Base or Variant supported by the evidence. Record the rejected alternatives and require an independent review before the mapping is used for remediation trends or program metrics.

CVE to CWE Root Cause Mapping Guidance — MITRE CWE

Validate CWE-318 with root-cause mapping checks

Apply MITRE's root-cause mapping quick tips to CWE-318, Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information in Executable. Confirm the finding describes the causal weakness rather than an impact or attack pattern, compare the abstraction and mapping notes with plausible alternatives, and have a second reviewer challenge the selection. Preserve the evidence and reasoning so recurring defects can be measured against one consistent identifier.

CVE to CWE Root Cause Mapping Quick Tips — MITRE CWE

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CWE-318: Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information in Executable?+

CWE-318: Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information in Executable is a Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) entry maintained by MITRE. The product stores sensitive information in cleartext in an executable. Attackers can reverse engineer binary code to obtain secret data. This is especially easy when the cleartext is plain ASCII. Even if the information is encoded in a way that is not human-readable, certain techniques could determine which encoding is being used, then decode the information.

What are the security consequences of Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information in Executable?+

If exploited, CWE-318 (Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information in Executable) it can compromise Confidentiality, leading to outcomes such as Read Application Data.

Which programming languages are affected by Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information in Executable?+

CWE-318 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 Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information in Executable?+

MITRE documents real CVEs mapped to CWE-318, including CVE-2005-1794 and CVE-2001-1527. 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-318 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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