CWE-454: CWE-454: External Initialization of Trusted Variables or Data Stores

BaseStable

Description

View on MITRE
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Extended Description

Extended Description

Technical Details

Structure
Simple
Vulnerability Mapping
ALLOWED

Applicable To

Languages
Languages
Platforms
Languages

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CWE-454: CWE-454: External Initialization of Trusted Variables or Data Stores?+

CWE-454: CWE-454: External Initialization of Trusted Variables or Data Stores is a Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) entry maintained by MITRE. Description Extended Description

What are the security consequences of CWE-454: External Initialization of Trusted Variables or Data Stores?+

If exploited, CWE-454 (CWE-454: External Initialization of Trusted Variables or Data Stores) it can compromise Modify Application Data, leading to outcomes such as Scope: Integrity An attacker could gain access to and modify sensitive data or system information..

How do you prevent or mitigate CWE-454: External Initialization of Trusted Variables or Data Stores?+

Recommended mitigations for CWE-454 include: Strategy: Input Validation A product system should be reluctant to trust variables that have been initialized outside of its trust boundary. Ensure adequate checking (e.g. input validation) is performed when relying on input from outside a trust boundary. Avoid any external control of variables. If necessary, restrict the variables that can be modified using an allowlist, and use a different namespace or naming convention if possible.

Which programming languages are affected by CWE-454: External Initialization of Trusted Variables or Data Stores?+

CWE-454 commonly affects Languages. 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-454 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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