CWE-455 — Non-exit on Failed Initialization
CWE-455: Non-exit on Failed Initialization
MITRE CWE weakness
| Kind | Weakness |
| Abstraction | Base |
| Status | Draft |
| Likelihood of exploit | — |
Description
The product does not exit or otherwise modify its operation when security-relevant errors occur during initialization, such as when a configuration file has a format error or a hardware security module (HSM) cannot be activated, which can cause the product to execute in a less secure fashion than intended by the administrator.
Common consequences
- Integrity, Other: Modify Application Data, Alter Execution Logic
Mitigations
Implementation — Follow the principle of failing securely when an error occurs. The system should enter a state where it is not vulnerable and will not display sensitive error messages to a potential attacker.
References
- CWE page: https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/455.html
- CWE list: https://cwe.mitre.org/data/index.html