What is CWE-508: Non-Replicating Malicious Code?

CWE-508: Non-Replicating Malicious Code is a Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) entry maintained by MITRE. Non-replicating malicious code only resides on the target system or product that is attacked; it does not attempt to spread to other systems.

What are the security consequences of Non-Replicating Malicious Code?

If exploited, CWE-508 (Non-Replicating Malicious Code) it can compromise Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability, leading to outcomes such as Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands.

How do you prevent or mitigate Non-Replicating Malicious Code?

Recommended mitigations for CWE-508 include: Antivirus software can help mitigate known malicious code. Verify the integrity of the software that is being installed.

Which programming languages are affected by Non-Replicating Malicious Code?

CWE-508 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-508 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.

CWE-508: Non-Replicating Malicious Code

Verify controls for CWE-508 with SSDF evidence

Use NIST SSDF verification and vulnerability-response practices to detect CWE-508, Non-Replicating Malicious Code, 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

Address Non-Replicating Malicious Code during Operation

MITRE associates mitigation with Operation, and Installation; recorded impacts include Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands; related weaknesses include CWE-507. Use these source-defined anchors to turn CWE-508 into implementation, review, and verification checks for the affected component.

CWE-508: Non-Replicating Malicious Code — MITRE CWE

Triage CWE-508 against known exploitation evidence

Use CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog to test whether a vulnerability mapped to CWE-508, Non-Replicating Malicious Code, has evidence of exploitation in the wild. Confirm the CVE-to-CWE root-cause mapping independently before attaching the example, then capture the affected product, required action, and remediation deadline. A missing KEV match is not evidence that the weakness is unexploited, and a KEV entry must not be generalized to every occurrence of this CWE.

Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog — Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency

Apply precise root-cause mapping to CWE-508

Apply MITRE's full root-cause mapping guidance when using CWE-508, Non-Replicating Malicious Code. 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-508 with root-cause mapping checks

Apply MITRE's root-cause mapping quick tips to CWE-508, Non-Replicating Malicious Code. 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

CWE-508: Non-Replicating Malicious Code

Technical Details

Applicable To

Security Consequences

Scope

Impact

Mitigation Strategies

Phase

Description

Phase

Description

Detection Methods

Code Examples & CVEs

CWE Relationships

Parent Weaknesses

Source-backed guidance

Verify controls for CWE-508 with SSDF evidence

Address Non-Replicating Malicious Code during Operation

Triage CWE-508 against known exploitation evidence

Apply precise root-cause mapping to CWE-508

Validate CWE-508 with root-cause mapping checks

Frequently Asked Questions

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