CWE-1419 Class Incomplete

Incorrect Initialization of Resource

This weakness occurs when a system fails to properly set up a resource during its creation, leaving it in an unstable, incorrect, or insecure state when used later.

Definition

What is CWE-1419?

This weakness occurs when a system fails to properly set up a resource during its creation, leaving it in an unstable, incorrect, or insecure state when used later.
In software, this often happens due to reliance on implicit or default initialization. For instance, in C, stack memory isn't automatically cleared, and many scripting languages assign a default null or zero value to uninitialized variables. This can lead to critical security flaws if the resource controls access, like an authentication flag, or holds sensitive configuration data. In hardware, similar issues arise from incorrect reset values, misconfigured security fuses, or physical defects. Even if fuses are programmed correctly, broken lines or interfering hardware can corrupt the value. This incorrect initialization during boot or reset can compromise the entire device's security posture from the start.
Auswirkungen in der Praxis

Real-world CVEs caused by CWE-1419

  • CVE-2020-27211

    Chain: microcontroller system-on-chip uses a register value stored in flash to set product protection state on the memory bus and does not contain protection against fault injection (CWE-1319) which leads to an incorrect initialization of the memory bus (CWE-1419) causing the product to be in an unprotected state.

  • CVE-2023-25815

    chain: a change in an underlying package causes the gettext function to use implicit initialization with a hard-coded path (CWE-1419) under the user-writable C:\ drive, introducing an untrusted search path element (CWE-427) that enables spoofing of messages.

  • CVE-2022-43468

    WordPress module sets internal variables based on external inputs, allowing false reporting of the number of views

  • CVE-2022-36349

    insecure default variable initialization in BIOS firmware for a hardware board allows DoS

  • CVE-2015-7763

    distributed filesystem only initializes part of the variable-length padding for a packet, allowing attackers to read sensitive information from previously-sent packets in the same memory location

Wie Angreifer es ausnutzen

Angreiferpfad Schritt für Schritt

  1. 1

    Consider example design module system verilog code shown below. The register_example module is an example parameterized module that defines two parameters, REGISTER_WIDTH and REGISTER_DEFAULT. Register_example module defines a Secure_mode setting, which when set makes the register content read-only and not modifiable by software writes. register_top module instantiates two registers, Insecure_Device_ID_1 and Insecure_Device_ID_2. Generally, registers containing device identifier values are required to be read only to prevent any possibility of software modifying these values.

  2. 2

    These example instantiations show how, in a hardware design, it would be possible to instantiate the register module with insecure defaults and parameters.

  3. 3

    In the example design, both registers will be software writable since Secure_mode is defined as zero.

  4. 4

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

  5. 5

    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.

Verwundbares Codebeispiel

Vulnerable Verilog

Consider example design module system verilog code shown below. The register_example module is an example parameterized module that defines two parameters, REGISTER_WIDTH and REGISTER_DEFAULT. Register_example module defines a Secure_mode setting, which when set makes the register content read-only and not modifiable by software writes. register_top module instantiates two registers, Insecure_Device_ID_1 and Insecure_Device_ID_2. Generally, registers containing device identifier values are required to be read only to prevent any possibility of software modifying these values.

Verwundbar Verilog 
// Parameterized Register module example 
 // Secure_mode : REGISTER_DEFAULT[0] : When set to 1 register is read only and not writable// 
 module register_example 
 #( 
 parameter REGISTER_WIDTH = 8, // Parameter defines width of register, default 8 bits 
 parameter [REGISTER_WIDTH-1:0] REGISTER_DEFAULT = 2**REGISTER_WIDTH -2 // Default value of register computed from Width. Sets all bits to 1s except bit 0 (Secure _mode) 
 ) 
 ( 
 input [REGISTER_WIDTH-1:0] Data_in, 
 input Clk, 
 input resetn, 
 input write, 
 output reg [REGISTER_WIDTH-1:0] Data_out 
 ); 

 reg Secure_mode; 

 always @(posedge Clk or negedge resetn) 

```
   if (~resetn) 
   begin 
  	 Data_out <= REGISTER_DEFAULT; // Register content set to Default at reset 
  	 Secure_mode <= REGISTER_DEFAULT[0]; // Register Secure_mode set at reset 
   end 
   else if (write & ~Secure_mode) 
   begin 
  	 Data_out <= Data_in; 
   end 
 endmodule 
 module register_top 
 ( 
 input Clk, 
 input resetn, 
 input write, 
 input [31:0] Data_in, 
 output reg [31:0] Secure_reg, 
 output reg [31:0] Insecure_reg 
 ); 
 register_example #( 
   .REGISTER_WIDTH (32), 
   .REGISTER_DEFAULT (1224) // Incorrect Default value used bit 0 is 0. 
 ) Insecure_Device_ID_1 ( 
   .Data_in (Data_in), 
   .Data_out (Secure_reg), 
   .Clk (Clk), 
   .resetn (resetn), 
   .write (write) 
 ); 
 register_example #(
   .REGISTER_WIDTH (32) // Default not defined 2^32-2 value will be used as default. 
 ) Insecure_Device_ID_2 ( 
   .Data_in (Data_in), 
   .Data_out (Insecure_reg), 
   .Clk (Clk), 
   .resetn (resetn), 
   .write (write) 
 ); 
 endmodule
Sicheres Codebeispiel

Secure Verilog

In the example design, both registers will be software writable since Secure_mode is defined as zero.

Sicher Verilog 
register_example #( 

```
   .REGISTER_WIDTH (32), 
   .REGISTER_DEFAULT (1225) // Correct default value set, to enable Secure_mode 
 ) Secure_Device_ID_example ( 
   .Data_in (Data_in), 
   .Data_out (Secure_reg), 
   .Clk (Clk), 
   .resetn (resetn), 
   .write (write) 
 );
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-1419

  • Implementation Choose the safest-possible initialization for security-related resources.
  • Implementation Ensure that each resource (whether variable, memory buffer, register, etc.) is fully initialized.
  • Implementation Pay close attention to complex conditionals or reset sources that affect initialization, since some paths might not perform the initialization.
  • Architecture and Design Ensure that the design and architecture clearly identify what the initialization should be, and that the initialization does not have security implications.
Erkennungssignale

How to detect CWE-1419

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-1419 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-1419?

This weakness occurs when a system fails to properly set up a resource during its creation, leaving it in an unstable, incorrect, or insecure state when used later.

Wie gravierend ist CWE-1419?

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-1419 betroffen?

MITRE lists the following affected platforms: Not OS-Specific, Not Architecture-Specific, Not Technology-Specific.

Wie kann ich CWE-1419 verhindern?

Choose the safest-possible initialization for security-related resources. Ensure that each resource (whether variable, memory buffer, register, etc.) is fully initialized.

Wie erkennt und behebt Plexicus CWE-1419?

Die SAST-Engine von Plexicus erkennt die Datenfluss-Signatur von CWE-1419 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-1419?

MITRE veröffentlicht die kanonische Definition unter https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/1419.html. Für ergänzende Hinweise kannst du auch die OWASP- und NIST-Dokumentation heranziehen.

Verwandte Schwachstellen

Weaknesses related to CWE-1419

CWE-665 Parent

Improper Initialization

This vulnerability occurs when software fails to properly set up a resource before use, or provides incorrect starting values, leaving it…

CWE-1188 Sibling

Initialization of a Resource with an Insecure Default

This vulnerability occurs when software uses an insecure default setting or value for a resource, assuming an administrator will change it…

CWE-1279 Sibling

Cryptographic Operations are run Before Supporting Units are Ready

This vulnerability occurs when cryptographic processes start before their required dependencies are properly initialized and ready to…

CWE-1434 Sibling

Insecure Setting of Generative AI/ML Model Inference Parameters

This vulnerability occurs when a generative AI or ML model is deployed with inference parameters that are too permissive, causing it to…

CWE-455 Sibling

Non-exit on Failed Initialization

This vulnerability occurs when software continues to run as normal after encountering a critical security failure during its startup…

CWE-456 Sibling

Missing Initialization of a Variable

This vulnerability occurs when a program uses a variable before giving it a starting value, causing the software to rely on unpredictable…

CWE-457 Sibling

Use of Uninitialized Variable

This vulnerability occurs when a program accesses a variable before it has been assigned a value, leading to unpredictable behavior and…

CWE-770 Sibling

Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling

This vulnerability occurs when a system allows users or processes to request resources without any built-in caps or rate limits. Think of…

CWE-908 Sibling

Use of Uninitialized Resource

This vulnerability occurs when software attempts to use a resource—like memory, a file handle, or an object—before it has been properly…

Ressourcen

Further reading

Bereit, wenn du es bist

Schluss mit dem Bezahlen pro Entwickler.
Schließ den Kreislauf.

Plexicus ist die KI-native ASPM, die scannt, filtert, fixt, pentestet und erklärt — autonom. Unbegrenzte Entwickler, unbegrenzte Repos, Fair-Use-KI-Aktionen. Echter kostenloser Tarif, €269/mo jährlich, wenn du bereit bist.

Kostenlos starten Demo buchen