CWE-835: Loop with Unreachable Exit Condition ('Infinite Loop')

BaseIncomplete

The product contains an iteration or loop with an exit condition that cannot be reached, i.e., an infinite loop.

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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.

Detect Loop with Unreachable Exit Condition ('Infinite Loop') with Automated Static Analysis

Documented detection approaches include Automated Static Analysis; recorded impacts include DoS: Resource Consumption (CPU), DoS: Resource Consumption (Memory), and DoS: Amplification; observed examples include CVE-2025-32399, CVE-2022-22224, and CVE-2022-25304. Use these source-defined anchors to turn CWE-835 into implementation, review, and verification checks for the affected component.

CWE-835: Loop with Unreachable Exit Condition ('Infinite Loop')MITRE CWE

Prevent CWE-835 through an SSDF control plan

Use NIST SSDF practices to make prevention of CWE-835, Loop with Unreachable Exit Condition ('Infinite Loop'), an explicit development outcome. Translate the CWE definition into security requirements and design constraints, choose safer implementation patterns and toolchain checks, and define acceptance evidence before release. Feed every confirmed occurrence back into the requirements, design review, and coding rules so the same root cause is removed across the product rather than patched in one location.

NIST SP 800-218 Secure Software Development FrameworkNational Institute of Standards and Technology

Triage CWE-835 against known exploitation evidence

Use CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog to test whether a vulnerability mapped to CWE-835, Loop with Unreachable Exit Condition ('Infinite Loop'), 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 CatalogCybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency

Apply precise root-cause mapping to CWE-835

Apply MITRE's full root-cause mapping guidance when using CWE-835, Loop with Unreachable Exit Condition ('Infinite Loop'). 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 GuidanceMITRE CWE

Validate CWE-835 with root-cause mapping checks

Apply MITRE's root-cause mapping quick tips to CWE-835, Loop with Unreachable Exit Condition ('Infinite Loop'). 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 TipsMITRE CWE

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CWE-835: Loop with Unreachable Exit Condition ('Infinite Loop')?+

CWE-835: Loop with Unreachable Exit Condition ('Infinite Loop') is a Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) entry maintained by MITRE. The product contains an iteration or loop with an exit condition that cannot be reached, i.e., an infinite loop.

What are the security consequences of Loop with Unreachable Exit Condition ('Infinite Loop')?+

If exploited, CWE-835 (Loop with Unreachable Exit Condition ('Infinite Loop')) it can compromise Availability, leading to outcomes such as DoS: Resource Consumption (CPU), DoS: Resource Consumption (Memory) and DoS: Amplification.

Which programming languages are affected by Loop with Unreachable Exit Condition ('Infinite Loop')?+

CWE-835 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 Loop with Unreachable Exit Condition ('Infinite Loop')?+

MITRE documents real CVEs mapped to CWE-835, including CVE-2025-32399, CVE-2022-22224, CVE-2022-25304, CVE-2011-1027 and CVE-2011-1142. 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-835 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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