CWE-424: Improper Protection of Alternate Path

ClassDraft

The product does not sufficiently protect all possible paths that a user can take to access restricted functionality or resources.

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Technical Details

Structure
Simple

Applicable To

Languages
Not Language-Specific
Platforms

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CWE-424: Improper Protection of Alternate Path?+

CWE-424: Improper Protection of Alternate Path is a Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) entry maintained by MITRE. The product does not sufficiently protect all possible paths that a user can take to access restricted functionality or resources.

What are the security consequences of Improper Protection of Alternate Path?+

If exploited, CWE-424 (Improper Protection of Alternate Path) it can compromise Access Control, leading to outcomes such as Bypass Protection Mechanism and Gain Privileges or Assume Identity.

How do you prevent or mitigate Improper Protection of Alternate Path?+

Recommended mitigations for CWE-424 include: Deploy different layers of protection to implement security in depth.

Which programming languages are affected by Improper Protection of Alternate Path?+

CWE-424 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 Improper Protection of Alternate Path?+

MITRE documents real CVEs mapped to CWE-424, including CVE-2022-29238. 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-424 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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