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CWE-389 Individual Dictionary Definition (Draft 9)

Error Conditions, Return Values, Status Codes
Category ID
Status: Incomplete

389 (Category)

Description

Summary

If a function in a product does not generate the correct return/status codes, or if the product does not handle all possible return/status codes that could be generated by a function, then security issues may result. This type of problem is most often found in conditions that are rarely encountered during the normal operation of the product. Presumably, most bugs related to common conditions are found and eliminated during development and testing. In some cases, the attacker can directly control or influence the environment to trigger the rare conditions.

Context Notes

This category is often primary to a variety of other weaknesses.

Research Gaps

Many researchers focus on the resultant weaknesses and do not necessarily diagnose whether a rare condition is the primary factor. However, since 2005 it seems to be reported more frequently than in the past. This subject needs more study.

Relationships
NatureTypeIDName
ChildOfCategoryCategory388Error Handling
ParentOfWeakness BaseWeakness BaseWeakness Base248Uncaught Exception
ParentOfWeakness BaseWeakness BaseWeakness Base252Unchecked Return Value
ParentOfWeakness BaseWeakness BaseWeakness Base253Misinterpreted Function Return Value
ParentOfWeakness ClassWeakness ClassWeakness Class390Detection of Error Condition Without Action
ParentOfWeakness BaseWeakness BaseWeakness Base391Unchecked Error Condition
ParentOfWeakness BaseWeakness BaseWeakness Base392Failure to Report Error in Status Code
ParentOfWeakness BaseWeakness BaseWeakness Base393Return of Wrong Status Code
ParentOfWeakness BaseWeakness BaseWeakness Base394Unexpected Status Code or Return Value
ParentOfWeakness BaseWeakness BaseWeakness Base395Use of NullPointerException Catch to Detect NULL Pointer Dereference
ParentOfWeakness BaseWeakness BaseWeakness Base396Declaration of Catch for Generic Exception
ParentOfWeakness BaseWeakness BaseWeakness Base397Declaration of Throws for Generic Exception
ParentOfWeakness BaseWeakness BaseWeakness Base584Return Inside Finally Block
Source Taxonomies

PLOVER - Error Conditions, Return Values, Status Codes

Applicable Platforms

All

Page Last Updated: April 22, 2008