CWE-599: Missing Validation of OpenSSL Certificate

Code Examples & CVEs

Demonstrative Examples

The following OpenSSL code ensures that the host has a certificate.

Note that the code does not call SSL_get_verify_result(ssl), which effectively disables the validation step that checks the certificate.

BadC

if (cert = SSL_get_peer_certificate(ssl)) {                                                                                 // got certificate, host can be trusted                                                                                    //foo=SSL_get_verify_result(ssl);                                                                                    //if (X509_V_OK==foo) ...                                                                           }

Source-backed guidance

Additional facts reviewed against primary or authoritative security sources.

Verify controls for CWE-599 with SSDF evidence

Use NIST SSDF verification and vulnerability-response practices to detect CWE-599, Missing Validation of OpenSSL Certificate, 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 Missing Validation of OpenSSL Certificate during Architecture and Design

MITRE associates mitigation with Architecture and Design, and Implementation; recorded impacts include Read Application Data, Bypass Protection Mechanism, and Gain Privileges or Assume Identity; related weaknesses include CWE-295. Use these source-defined anchors to turn CWE-599 into implementation, review, and verification checks for the affected component.

CWE-599: Missing Validation of OpenSSL Certificate — MITRE CWE

Triage CWE-599 against known exploitation evidence

Use CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog to test whether a vulnerability mapped to CWE-599, Missing Validation of OpenSSL Certificate, 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-599

Apply MITRE's full root-cause mapping guidance when using CWE-599, Missing Validation of OpenSSL Certificate. 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-599 with root-cause mapping checks

Apply MITRE's root-cause mapping quick tips to CWE-599, Missing Validation of OpenSSL Certificate. 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-599: Missing Validation of OpenSSL Certificate?+

CWE-599: Missing Validation of OpenSSL Certificate is a Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) entry maintained by MITRE. The product uses OpenSSL and trusts or uses a certificate without using the SSL_get_verify_result() function to ensure that the certificate satisfies all necessary security requirements.

What are the security consequences of Missing Validation of OpenSSL Certificate?+

If exploited, CWE-599 (Missing Validation of OpenSSL Certificate) it can compromise Confidentiality and Access Control, leading to outcomes such as Read Application Data, Bypass Protection Mechanism and Gain Privileges or Assume Identity.

How do you prevent or mitigate Missing Validation of OpenSSL Certificate?+

Recommended mitigations for CWE-599 include: Ensure that proper authentication is included in the system design. Understand and properly implement all checks necessary to ensure the identity of entities involved in encrypted communications.

Which programming languages are affected by Missing Validation of OpenSSL Certificate?+

CWE-599 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-599 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-599: Missing Validation of OpenSSL Certificate

Technical Details

Applicable To

Security Consequences

Scope

Impact

Scope

Impact

Scope

Impact

Mitigation Strategies

Phase

Description

Phase

Description

Detection Methods

Code Examples & CVEs

Demonstrative Examples

CWE Relationships

Parent Weaknesses

Source-backed guidance

Verify controls for CWE-599 with SSDF evidence

Address Missing Validation of OpenSSL Certificate during Architecture and Design

Triage CWE-599 against known exploitation evidence

Apply precise root-cause mapping to CWE-599

Validate CWE-599 with root-cause mapping checks

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn More