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Home > CWE List > CWE-1464: Improper Session Invalidation (5.0)  
ID

CWE-1464: Improper Session Invalidation

Weakness ID: 1464
Vulnerability Mapping: ALLOWED This CWE ID may be used to map to real-world vulnerabilities
Abstraction: Base Base - a weakness that is still mostly independent of a resource or technology, but with sufficient details to provide specific methods for detection and prevention. Base level weaknesses typically describe issues in terms of 2 or 3 of the following dimensions: behavior, property, technology, language, and resource.
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+ Description
The product establishes a session for an authenticated user, but it does not properly invalidate or terminate the session when it is required.
+ Potential Mitigations
Phase(s) Mitigation

Implementation

Ensure that user sessions are invalidated on the server-side for all possible security related events relevant to the application. It is important that the server-side handles all session invalidation and does not rely on the client to remove or delete a session, due to the possibility of adversaries capturing session identifiers or cookies for later reuse.
+ Relationships
Section Help 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, Overlaps, and CanAlsoBe are defined to show similar weaknesses that the user may want to explore.
+ Relevant to the view "Complete Weakness Hierarchy" (View-1000)
Nature Type ID Name
ChildOf Class 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. 1462 Improper Session Management
ParentOf Variant 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. 1465 Improper Session Invalidation after User Logout
ParentOf Variant 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. 1466 Improper Session Invalidation after Authentication Credential Change
+ Relevant to the view "Software Development" (View-699)
Nature Type ID Name
MemberOf Grouping Grouping - a CWE entry that contains a set of other entries that share a common characteristic. 1217 User Session Errors
+ Modes Of Introduction
Section HelpThe different Modes of Introduction provide information about how and when this weakness may be introduced. The Phase identifies a point in the life cycle at which introduction may occur, while the Note provides a typical scenario related to introduction during the given phase.
Phase(s) Note

Architecture and Design

Implementation

+ Applicable Platforms
Section HelpThis listing shows possible areas for which the given weakness could appear. These may be for specific named Languages, Operating Systems, Architectures, Paradigms, Technologies, or a class of such platforms. The platform is listed along with how frequently the given weakness appears for that instance.
Type Applicable Platforms Notes
Languages

Class: Not Language-Specific (Undetermined Prevalence)

Operating Systems

Class: Not OS-Specific (Undetermined Prevalence)

Architectures

Class: Not Architecture-Specific (Undetermined Prevalence)

Technologies

Class: Client Server (Undetermined Prevalence)

Class: Web Based (Undetermined Prevalence)

+ Selected Observed Examples

Note: this is a curated list of examples for users to understand the variety of ways in which this weakness can be introduced. It is not a complete list of all CVEs that are related to this CWE entry.

Reference Description
Session was not invalidated after inactivity
Session not invalidated after security relevant account change
+ Detection Methods
Method Details

Dynamic Analysis with Manual Results Interpretation

Ensure that application testing includes scenarios that are intended to lead to session invalidation and verify that the session can no longer be used.
+ Memberships
Section HelpThis 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 GroupingGrouping - a CWE entry that contains a set of other entries that share a common characteristic. 1396 Comprehensive Categorization: Access Control
+ Vulnerability Mapping Notes
Usage ALLOWED
(this CWE ID may 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

Version: 5.0; Release Date: 2026-10-28

This entry was created in CWE 5.0 to address known gaps in CWE coverage. It is not as complete as other new entries that were published in recent years. The CWE Team plans to work with the CWE community to make this entry more complete in later 5.x releases.
+ Taxonomy Mappings
Mapped Taxonomy Name Node ID Fit Mapped Node Name
WASC 47 Insufficient Session Expiration
+ References
[REF-1520] WASC. "Insufficient Session Expiration".
<http://projects.webappsec.org/w/page/13246944/Insufficient%20Session%20Expiration>. (URL validated: 2026-04-27)
[REF-1565] Non-Human Identity Management Group. "Session invalidation".
<https://nhimg.org/glossary/session-invalidation/>. (URL validated: 2026-10-23)
+ Content History
+ Submissions
Submission Date Submitter Organization
2026-10-23
(CWE 5.0, 2026-10-28)
CWE Content Team MITRE
+ Contributions
Contribution Date Contributor Organization
2026-09-15
(CWE 5.0, 2026-10-28)
CDR GitHub User abdullahzarshaid (Abdullah Bin Zarshaid)
Suggested content related to "Improper Enforcement of Explicit Session Termination" which inspired and contributed to the content in this CWE entry
Page Last Updated: Oct 28, 2026