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CWE-419: Unprotected Primary Channel

BaseDraft

The product uses a primary channel for administration or restricted functionality, but it does not properly protect the channel.

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Technical Details

Structure
Simple

Applicable To

Languages
Not Language-Specific
Platforms

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CWE-419: Unprotected Primary Channel?+

CWE-419: Unprotected Primary Channel is a Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) entry maintained by MITRE. The product uses a primary channel for administration or restricted functionality, but it does not properly protect the channel.

What are the security consequences of Unprotected Primary Channel?+

If exploited, CWE-419 (Unprotected Primary Channel) it can compromise Access Control, leading to outcomes such as Gain Privileges or Assume Identity and Bypass Protection Mechanism.

How do you prevent or mitigate Unprotected Primary Channel?+

Recommended mitigations for CWE-419 include: Do not expose administrative functionnality on the user UI. Protect the administrative/restricted functionality with a strong authentication mechanism.

Which programming languages are affected by Unprotected Primary Channel?+

CWE-419 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-419 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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