CWE - CWE-1188: Initialization of a Resource with an Insecure Default (4.13)

Weakness ID: 1188

Abstraction: Base
Structure: Simple

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Description

The product initializes or sets a resource with a default that is intended to be changed by the administrator, but the default is not secure.

Extended Description

Developers often choose default values that leave the product as open and easy to use as possible out-of-the-box, under the assumption that the administrator can (or should) change the default value. However, this ease-of-use comes at a cost when the default is insecure and the administrator does not change it.

Relationships

This table shows the weaknesses and high level categories that are related to this weakness. These relationships are defined as ChildOf, ParentOf, MemberOf and give insight to similar items that may exist at higher and lower levels of abstraction. In addition, relationships such as PeerOf and CanAlsoBe are defined to show similar weaknesses that the user may want to explore.

Relevant to the view "Research Concepts" (CWE-1000)

Nature	Type	ID	Name
ChildOf	Class - a weakness that is described in a very abstract fashion, typically independent of any specific language or technology. More specific than a Pillar Weakness, but more general than a Base Weakness. Class level weaknesses typically describe issues in terms of 1 or 2 of the following dimensions: behavior, property, and resource.	1419	Incorrect Initialization of Resource
ParentOf	Variant - a weakness that is linked to a certain type of product, typically involving a specific language or technology. More specific than a Base weakness. Variant level weaknesses typically describe issues in terms of 3 to 5 of the following dimensions: behavior, property, technology, language, and resource.	453	Insecure Default Variable Initialization

Relevant to the view "Software Development" (CWE-699)

Nature	Type	ID	Name
MemberOf	Category - a CWE entry that contains a set of other entries that share a common characteristic.	399	Resource Management Errors
MemberOf	Category - a CWE entry that contains a set of other entries that share a common characteristic.	452	Initialization and Cleanup Errors

Relevant to the view "Weaknesses for Simplified Mapping of Published Vulnerabilities" (CWE-1003)

Nature	Type	ID	Name
ChildOf	Class - a weakness that is described in a very abstract fashion, typically independent of any specific language or technology. More specific than a Pillar Weakness, but more general than a Base Weakness. Class level weaknesses typically describe issues in terms of 1 or 2 of the following dimensions: behavior, property, and resource.	665	Improper Initialization

Demonstrative Examples

Example 1

This code attempts to login a user using credentials from a POST request:

(bad code)

Example Language: PHP

// $user and $pass automatically set from POST request
if (login_user($user,$pass)) {

$authorized = true;

}
...

if ($authorized) {

generatePage();

}

Because the $authorized variable is never initialized, PHP will automatically set $authorized to any value included in the POST request if register_globals is enabled. An attacker can send a POST request with an unexpected third value 'authorized' set to 'true' and gain authorized status without supplying valid credentials.

Here is a fixed version:

(bad code)

Example Language: PHP

$user = $_POST['user'];
$pass = $_POST['pass'];
$authorized = false;
if (login_user($user,$pass)) {

$authorized = true;

}
...

This code avoids the issue by initializing the $authorized variable to false and explicitly retrieving the login credentials from the $_POST variable. Regardless, register_globals should never be enabled and is disabled by default in current versions of PHP.

Observed Examples

Reference	Description
CVE-2022-36349	insecure default variable initialization in BIOS firmware for a hardware board allows DoS
CVE-2022-42467	A generic database browser interface has a default mode that exposes a web server to the network, allowing queries to the database.

Weakness Ordinalities

Ordinality	Description
Primary	(where the weakness exists independent of other weaknesses)

Memberships

This MemberOf Relationships table shows additional CWE Categories and Views that reference this weakness as a member. This information is often useful in understanding where a weakness fits within the context of external information sources.

Nature	Type	ID	Name
MemberOf	Category - a CWE entry that contains a set of other entries that share a common characteristic.	1416	Comprehensive Categorization: Resource Lifecycle Management

Vulnerability Mapping Notes

Usage: Allowed

(this CWE ID could be used to map to real-world vulnerabilities)

Reason: Acceptable-Use

Rationale:

This CWE entry is at the Base level of abstraction, which is a preferred level of abstraction for mapping to the root causes of vulnerabilities.

Comments:

Carefully read both the name and description to ensure that this mapping is an appropriate fit. Do not try to 'force' a mapping to a lower-level Base/Variant simply to comply with this preferred level of abstraction.

Notes

Maintenance

This entry improves organization of concepts under initialization. The typical CWE model is to cover "Missing" and "Incorrect" behaviors. Arguably, this entry could be named as "Incorrect" instead of "Insecure." This might be changed in the near future.

Related Attack Patterns

CAPEC-ID	Attack Pattern Name
CAPEC-665	Exploitation of Thunderbolt Protection Flaws

Content History

Submissions
Submission Date	Submitter	Organization
2019-03-25 (CWE 3.3, 2019-06-20)	CWE Content Team	MITRE
2019-03-25 (CWE 3.3, 2019-06-20)
Modifications
Modification Date	Modifier	Organization
2020-02-24	CWE Content Team	MITRE
2020-02-24	updated Relationships
2021-07-20	CWE Content Team	MITRE
2021-07-20	updated Related_Attack_Patterns
2023-01-31	CWE Content Team	MITRE
2023-01-31	updated Description
2023-04-27	CWE Content Team	MITRE
2023-04-27	updated Relationships
2023-06-29	CWE Content Team	MITRE
2023-06-29	updated Mapping_Notes
2023-10-26	CWE Content Team	MITRE
2023-10-26	updated Demonstrative_Examples, Name, Observed_Examples, Relationships
Previous Entry Names
Change Date	Previous Entry Name
2023-10-26	Insecure Default Initialization of Resource


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Common Weakness Enumeration

CWE-1188: Initialization of a Resource with an Insecure Default

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