CWE-1266 Base Incompleto

Improper Scrubbing of Sensitive Data from Decommissioned Device

This vulnerability occurs when a system lacks a reliable method for administrators to permanently erase sensitive information before taking hardware or software out of service. The data scrubbing…

Definición

What is CWE-1266?

This vulnerability occurs when a system lacks a reliable method for administrators to permanently erase sensitive information before taking hardware or software out of service. The data scrubbing feature might be missing, ineffective, or flawed, leaving confidential data behind.
When decommissioning a device or application—such as retiring a server, storage array, or IoT gadget—you must actively destroy any stored sensitive data. This process, often called data scrubbing or sanitization, is critical because simply deleting files or performing a factory reset often doesn't remove the underlying data from physical storage, making it recoverable by anyone with access to the hardware. Failure to properly scrub data exposes credentials, proprietary configurations, user information, and network details. Attackers can easily extract this information from discarded, sold, or repurposed equipment. To prevent this, you need built-in, verified secure erase functions that overwrite storage media according to recognized standards, going beyond basic deletion commands.
Impacto en el mundo real

Real-world CVEs caused by CWE-1266

Todavía no hay CVEs públicos enlazados a esta CWE en el catálogo de MITRE.

Cómo lo explotan los atacantes

Ruta del atacante paso a paso

  1. 1

    Identifica una ruta de código que maneje entrada no confiable sin validación.

  2. 2

    Crea un payload que ejercite el comportamiento inseguro — inyección, traversal, overflow o abuso de lógica.

  3. 3

    Envía el payload a través de una solicitud normal y observa la reacción de la aplicación.

  4. 4

    Itera hasta que la respuesta filtre datos, ejecute código del atacante o escale privilegios.

Ejemplo de código vulnerable

Vulnerable pseudo

MITRE no ha publicado un ejemplo de código para esta CWE. El patrón siguiente es ilustrativo — consulta Recursos para referencias canónicas.

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

Secure pseudo

Seguro 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.
Lista de prevención

How to prevent CWE-1266

  • Architecture and Design Functionality to completely scrub data from a product at the conclusion of its lifecycle should be part of the design phase. Trying to add this function on top of an existing architecture could lead to incomplete removal of sensitive information/data.
  • Policy The manufacturer should describe the location(s) where sensitive data is stored and the policies and procedures for its removal. This information may be conveyed, for example, in an Administrators Guide or a Statement of Volatility.
  • Implementation If the capability to wipe sensitive data isn't built-in, the manufacturer may need to provide a utility to scrub sensitive data from storage if that data is located in a place which is non-accessible by the administrator. One example of this could be when sensitive data is stored on an EEPROM for which there is no user/admin interface provided by the system.
Señales de detección

How to detect CWE-1266

SAST High

Ejecuta análisis estático (SAST) sobre el código buscando el patrón inseguro en el flujo de datos.

DAST Moderate

Ejecuta pruebas dinámicas de seguridad de aplicaciones (DAST) contra el endpoint en vivo.

Runtime Moderate

Vigila los logs en tiempo de ejecución para detectar trazas de excepción inusuales, entradas malformadas o intentos de bypass de autorización.

Code review Moderate

Revisión de código: marca cualquier código nuevo que maneje entrada desde esta superficie sin usar los helpers validados del framework.

Auto-corrección de Plexicus

Plexicus detecta automáticamente CWE-1266 y abre un PR de corrección en menos de 60 segundos.

Codex Remedium escanea cada commit, identifica esta debilidad concreta y entrega un pull request listo para revisión con el parche. Sin tickets. Sin traspasos.

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Preguntas frecuentes

Frequently asked questions

¿Qué es CWE-1266?

This vulnerability occurs when a system lacks a reliable method for administrators to permanently erase sensitive information before taking hardware or software out of service. The data scrubbing feature might be missing, ineffective, or flawed, leaving confidential data behind.

¿Qué gravedad tiene CWE-1266?

MITRE no ha publicado una calificación de probabilidad de explotación para esta debilidad. Trátala como de impacto medio hasta que tu modelo de amenazas demuestre lo contrario.

¿Qué lenguajes o plataformas se ven afectados por CWE-1266?

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

¿Cómo puedo prevenir CWE-1266?

Functionality to completely scrub data from a product at the conclusion of its lifecycle should be part of the design phase. Trying to add this function on top of an existing architecture could lead to incomplete removal of sensitive information/data. The manufacturer should describe the location(s) where sensitive data is stored and the policies and procedures for its removal. This information may be conveyed, for example, in an Administrators Guide or a Statement of Volatility.

¿Cómo detecta y corrige Plexicus CWE-1266?

El motor SAST de Plexicus detecta la firma de flujo de datos para CWE-1266 en cada commit. Cuando hay coincidencia, nuestro agente Codex Remedium abre un PR de corrección con el código corregido, las pruebas y un resumen de una línea para el revisor.

¿Dónde puedo aprender más sobre CWE-1266?

MITRE publica la definición canónica en https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/1266.html. También puedes consultar la documentación de OWASP y NIST para guías relacionadas.

Debilidades relacionadas

Weaknesses related to CWE-1266

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CWE-459 Hermano

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CWE-761 Hermano

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CWE-762 Hermano

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CWE-763 Hermano

Release of Invalid Pointer or Reference

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CWE-772 Hermano

Missing Release of Resource after Effective Lifetime

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CWE-775 Hermano

Missing Release of File Descriptor or Handle after Effective Lifetime

This vulnerability occurs when a program fails to properly close file descriptors or handles after they are no longer needed, leaving…

Recursos

Further reading

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