CWE-1288 Base Incomplete

Improper Validation of Consistency within Input

This vulnerability occurs when an application accepts structured input containing multiple related fields but fails to verify that the values across those fields are logically consistent with each…

Definition

What is CWE-1288?

This vulnerability occurs when an application accepts structured input containing multiple related fields but fails to verify that the values across those fields are logically consistent with each other.
Many applications process complex data where certain fields must align, like a 'quantity' field followed by a matching number of item entries. If the software doesn't check this internal harmony, attackers can submit deliberately mismatched data. This inconsistency can crash the system, trigger unhandled errors, or cause the application to perform incorrect actions, such as processing the wrong number of items. From a security perspective, failing to validate these relationships opens the door to exploitation. Attackers can use these inconsistencies to bypass business logic, corrupt data in unexpected ways, or uncover deeper flaws that lead to data exposure or system compromise. Consistent validation of all inter-dependent fields is a crucial step in ensuring input integrity and application security.
Auswirkungen in der Praxis

Real-world CVEs caused by CWE-1288

  • CVE-2018-16733

    product does not validate that the start block appears before the end block

  • CVE-2006-3790

    size field that is inconsistent with packet size leads to buffer over-read

  • CVE-2008-4114

    system crash with offset value that is inconsistent with packet size

Wie Angreifer es ausnutzen

Angreiferpfad Schritt für Schritt

  1. 1

    Identifiziere einen Codepfad, der nicht vertrauenswürdige Eingaben ohne Validierung verarbeitet.

  2. 2

    Erzeuge eine Payload, die das unsichere Verhalten auslöst — Injection, Traversal, Overflow oder Logik-Missbrauch.

  3. 3

    Liefere die Payload über einen normalen Request aus und beobachte die Reaktion der Anwendung.

  4. 4

    Iteriere, bis die Antwort Daten preisgibt, Angreifer-Code ausführt oder Berechtigungen eskaliert.

Verwundbares Codebeispiel

Vulnerable pseudo

MITRE hat kein Codebeispiel für diese CWE veröffentlicht. Das untenstehende Muster ist illustrativ — kanonische Referenzen findest du unter Ressourcen.

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

Secure pseudo

Sicher 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.
Präventions-Checkliste

How to prevent CWE-1288

  • Implementation Assume all input is malicious. Use an "accept known good" input validation strategy, i.e., use a list of acceptable inputs that strictly conform to specifications. Reject any input that does not strictly conform to specifications, or transform it into something that does. When performing input validation, consider all potentially relevant properties, including length, type of input, the full range of acceptable values, missing or extra inputs, syntax, consistency across related fields, and conformance to business rules. As an example of business rule logic, "boat" may be syntactically valid because it only contains alphanumeric characters, but it is not valid if the input is only expected to contain colors such as "red" or "blue." Do not rely exclusively on looking for malicious or malformed inputs. This is likely to miss at least one undesirable input, especially if the code's environment changes. This can give attackers enough room to bypass the intended validation. However, denylists can be useful for detecting potential attacks or determining which inputs are so malformed that they should be rejected outright.
Erkennungssignale

How to detect CWE-1288

SAST High

Führe statische Analyse (SAST) auf der Codebasis aus und suche im Datenfluss nach dem unsicheren Muster.

DAST Moderate

Führe dynamische Application-Security-Tests gegen den Live-Endpoint aus.

Runtime Moderate

Beobachte Runtime-Logs auf ungewöhnliche Exception-Traces, fehlerhafte Eingaben oder Versuche, Autorisierung zu umgehen.

Code review Moderate

Code Review: Markiere jeden neuen Code, der Eingaben von dieser Oberfläche ohne validierte Framework-Helper verarbeitet.

Plexicus Auto-Fix

Plexicus erkennt CWE-1288 automatisch und öffnet in unter 60 Sekunden einen Fix-PR.

Codex Remedium scannt jeden Commit, identifiziert genau diese Schwachstelle und liefert einen reviewer-ready Pull Request mit dem Patch. Keine Tickets. Keine Hand-offs.

Demo anfordern Plexicus kostenlos testen
Häufig gestellte Fragen

Frequently asked questions

Was ist CWE-1288?

This vulnerability occurs when an application accepts structured input containing multiple related fields but fails to verify that the values across those fields are logically consistent with each other.

Wie gravierend ist CWE-1288?

MITRE hat für diese Schwachstelle keine Exploit-Wahrscheinlichkeit veröffentlicht. Behandle sie als mittlere Auswirkung, bis dein Threat Model anderes belegt.

Welche Sprachen oder Plattformen sind von CWE-1288 betroffen?

MITRE hat für diese CWE keine betroffenen Plattformen spezifiziert — sie kann in den meisten Anwendungs-Stacks auftreten.

Wie kann ich CWE-1288 verhindern?

Assume all input is malicious. Use an "accept known good" input validation strategy, i.e., use a list of acceptable inputs that strictly conform to specifications. Reject any input that does not strictly conform to specifications, or transform it into something that does. When performing input validation, consider all potentially relevant properties, including length, type of input, the full range of acceptable values, missing or extra inputs, syntax, consistency across related fields, and…

Wie erkennt und behebt Plexicus CWE-1288?

Die SAST-Engine von Plexicus erkennt die Datenfluss-Signatur von CWE-1288 bei jedem Commit. Bei einem Treffer öffnet unser Codex-Remedium-Agent einen Fix-PR mit korrigiertem Code, Tests und einer einzeiligen Zusammenfassung für den Reviewer.

Wo erfahre ich mehr über CWE-1288?

MITRE veröffentlicht die kanonische Definition unter https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/1288.html. Für ergänzende Hinweise kannst du auch die OWASP- und NIST-Dokumentation heranziehen.

Verwandte Schwachstellen

Weaknesses related to CWE-1288

CWE-20 Parent

Improper Input Validation

This vulnerability occurs when an application accepts data from an external source but fails to properly verify that the data is safe and…

CWE-102 Sibling

Struts: Duplicate Validation Forms

This vulnerability occurs when an application defines multiple Struts validation forms with identical names. The framework then…

CWE-103 Sibling

Struts: Incomplete validate() Method Definition

This vulnerability occurs in a Struts application when a validator form either completely omits a validate() method or includes one but…

CWE-104 Sibling

Struts: Form Bean Does Not Extend Validation Class

This vulnerability occurs in Apache Struts applications when a form bean class does not properly extend the framework's validation class.…

CWE-105 Sibling

Struts: Form Field Without Validator

This vulnerability occurs when a Struts application form contains an input field that lacks a corresponding validator, leaving it open to…

CWE-106 Sibling

Struts: Plug-in Framework not in Use

This weakness occurs when a Java application, particularly one using the Struts framework, does not implement a structured input…

CWE-107 Sibling

Struts: Unused Validation Form

This vulnerability occurs when a Struts application contains validation form definitions that are no longer linked to any active form or…

CWE-108 Sibling

Struts: Unvalidated Action Form

In Apache Struts, every Action Form that processes user input must have a corresponding validation form configured. Missing this…

CWE-109 Sibling

Struts: Validator Turned Off

This vulnerability occurs when an application built with Apache Struts intentionally disables its built-in validation framework. By…

Ressourcen

Further reading

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