CWE-1351: Improper Handling of Hardware Behavior in Exceptionally Cold Environments

Definition

What is CWE-1351?

This weakness occurs when a hardware device or its firmware lacks proper safeguards to maintain security functions when operated in extremely cold temperatures. Designers may fail to anticipate how critical components, like memory or security primitives, behave outside their standard operating range, creating exploitable gaps.

Hardware behavior can change dramatically in exceptionally cold environments. For instance, volatile memory like DRAM or SRAM may not clear its previous data when power is cycled at low temperatures, because the cold slows charge leakage. If a security mechanism, such as a Physical Unclonable Function (PUF) that relies on this memory for a unique, random seed, assumes a cleared or unbiased state on startup, it could instead be using predictable, old data. This breaks the fundamental security guarantee. This flaw is introduced when system designers do not account for the temperature sensitivity of their chosen hardware components. It's distinct from a 'Cold Boot Attack,' where an attacker physically removes and reads cooled memory. Here, the weakness is an internal design oversight: the device itself fails to correctly implement its security primitives—like reliable key generation or secure boot—when subjected to cold stress, because it incorrectly handles the persistent state of temperature-sensitive components.

Real-world impact

Real-world CVEs caused by CWE-1351

No public CVE references are linked to this CWE in MITRE's catalog yet.

How attackers exploit it

Step-by-step attacker path

1
Identify a code path that handles untrusted input without validation.
2
Craft a payload that exercises the unsafe behavior — injection, traversal, overflow, or logic abuse.
3
Deliver the payload through a normal request and observe the application's reaction.
4
Iterate until the response leaks data, executes attacker code, or escalates privileges.

Vulnerable code example

Vulnerable pseudo

MITRE has not published a code example for this CWE. The pattern below is illustrative — see Resources for canonical references.

Vulnerable pseudo

// Example pattern — see MITRE for the canonical references.
function handleRequest(input) {
  // Untrusted input flows directly into the sensitive sink.
  return executeUnsafe(input);
}

Secure code example

Secure pseudo

// Validate, sanitize, or use a safe API before reaching the sink.
function handleRequest(input) {
  const safe = validateAndEscape(input);
  return executeWithGuards(safe);
}

What changed: the unsafe sink is replaced (or the input is validated/escaped) so the same payload no longer triggers the weakness.

Prevention checklist

How to prevent CWE-1351

Architecture and Design The system should account for security primitive behavior when cooled outside standard temperatures.

Detection signals

How to detect CWE-1351

SAST High

Run static analysis (SAST) on the codebase looking for the unsafe pattern in the data flow.

DAST Moderate

Run dynamic application security testing against the live endpoint.

Runtime Moderate

Watch runtime logs for unusual exception traces, malformed input, or authorization bypass attempts.

Code review Moderate

Code review: flag any new code that handles input from this surface without using the validated framework helpers.

CWE-1351

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Frequently asked questions

What is CWE-1351?

This weakness occurs when a hardware device or its firmware lacks proper safeguards to maintain security functions when operated in extremely cold temperatures. Designers may fail to anticipate how critical components, like memory or security primitives, behave outside their standard operating range, creating exploitable gaps.

How serious is CWE-1351?

MITRE has not published a likelihood-of-exploit rating for this weakness. Treat it as medium-impact until your threat model proves otherwise.

What languages or platforms are affected by CWE-1351?

MITRE lists the following affected platforms: Not OS-Specific, Embedded, Microcomputer, System on Chip.

How can I prevent CWE-1351?

The system should account for security primitive behavior when cooled outside standard temperatures.

How does Plexicus detect and fix CWE-1351?

Plexicus's SAST engine matches the data-flow signature for CWE-1351 on every commit. When a match is found, our Codex Remedium agent opens a fix PR with the corrected code, tests, and a one-line summary for the reviewer.

Where can I learn more about CWE-1351?

MITRE publishes the canonical definition at https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/1351.html. You can also reference OWASP and NIST documentation for adjacent guidance.

Related weaknesses

Weaknesses related to CWE-1351

CWE-1384 Parent

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Improper Handling of Hardware Behavior in Exceptionally Cold Environments

What is CWE-1351?

Real-world CVEs caused by CWE-1351

Step-by-step attacker path

Vulnerable pseudo

Secure pseudo

How to prevent CWE-1351

How to detect CWE-1351

Don't catalog this weakness. Prove it's reachable.

Frequently asked questions

Weaknesses related to CWE-1351

Improper Handling of Physical or Environmental Conditions

Improper Protection Against Voltage and Clock Glitches

Improper Handling of Single Event Upsets

Improper Handling of Faults that Lead to Instruction Skips

Further reading

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Sample evidence handover

Server-Side Request Forgery in `webhooks/receiver`