CWE-593: Authentication Bypass: OpenSSL CTX Object Modified after SSL Objects are Created

VariantDraft

The product modifies the SSL context after connection creation has begun.

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Extended Description

If the program modifies the SSL_CTX object after creating SSL objects from it, there is the possibility that older SSL objects created from the original context could all be affected by that change.

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-593 with SSDF evidence

Use NIST SSDF verification and vulnerability-response practices to detect CWE-593, Authentication Bypass: OpenSSL CTX Object Modified after SSL Objects are Created, 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 Authentication Bypass: OpenSSL CTX Object Modified after SSL Objects are Created during Architecture and Design

MITRE associates mitigation with Architecture and Design, and Implementation; recorded impacts include Bypass Protection Mechanism, and Read Application Data; the entry maps to CAPEC-94. Use these source-defined anchors to turn CWE-593 into implementation, review, and verification checks for the affected component.

CWE-593: Authentication Bypass: OpenSSL CTX Object Modified after SSL Objects are Created — MITRE CWE

Triage CWE-593 against known exploitation evidence

Use CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog to test whether a vulnerability mapped to CWE-593, Authentication Bypass: OpenSSL CTX Object Modified after SSL Objects are Created, 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-593

Apply MITRE's full root-cause mapping guidance when using CWE-593, Authentication Bypass: OpenSSL CTX Object Modified after SSL Objects are Created. 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-593 with root-cause mapping checks

Apply MITRE's root-cause mapping quick tips to CWE-593, Authentication Bypass: OpenSSL CTX Object Modified after SSL Objects are Created. 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-593: Authentication Bypass: OpenSSL CTX Object Modified after SSL Objects are Created?+

CWE-593: Authentication Bypass: OpenSSL CTX Object Modified after SSL Objects are Created is a Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) entry maintained by MITRE. The product modifies the SSL context after connection creation has begun. If the program modifies the SSL_CTX object after creating SSL objects from it, there is the possibility that older SSL objects created from the original context could all be affected by that change.

What are the security consequences of Authentication Bypass: OpenSSL CTX Object Modified after SSL Objects are Created?+

If exploited, CWE-593 (Authentication Bypass: OpenSSL CTX Object Modified after SSL Objects are Created) it can compromise Access Control and Confidentiality, leading to outcomes such as Bypass Protection Mechanism and Read Application Data.

How do you prevent or mitigate Authentication Bypass: OpenSSL CTX Object Modified after SSL Objects are Created?+

Recommended mitigations for CWE-593 include: Use a language or a library that provides a cryptography framework at a higher level of abstraction. Most SSL_CTX functions have SSL counterparts that act on SSL-type objects. Applications should set up an SSL_CTX completely, before creating SSL objects from it.

Which programming languages are affected by Authentication Bypass: OpenSSL CTX Object Modified after SSL Objects are Created?+

CWE-593 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-593 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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