CWE-620 Base Borrador

Unverified Password Change

This vulnerability occurs when an application allows a user to set a new password without first verifying their identity through the old password or a secure secondary authentication method.

Definición

What is CWE-620?

This vulnerability occurs when an application allows a user to set a new password without first verifying their identity through the old password or a secure secondary authentication method.
This flaw creates a major security gap, as an attacker who can access the password change function (for example, through a predictable user ID or a cross-site request forgery attack) can reset another user's credentials. Without proper verification, the system implicitly trusts that the person requesting the change is the legitimate account holder, leading to a complete account takeover. To prevent this, developers must always require proof of identity before processing a password reset. The standard practice is to require the user's current password for a voluntary change, or to use a time-limited, single-use token sent to a pre-verified email or phone for a recovery scenario. This ensures that control of the account is never relinquished based on a simple request alone.
Impacto en el mundo real

Real-world CVEs caused by CWE-620

  • CVE-2007-0681

    Web app allows remote attackers to change the passwords of arbitrary users without providing the original password, and possibly perform other unauthorized actions.

  • CVE-2000-0944

    Web application password change utility doesn't check the original password.

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 PHP

This code changes a user's password.

Vulnerable PHP 
$user = $_GET['user'];
  $pass = $_GET['pass'];
  $checkpass = $_GET['checkpass'];
  if ($pass == $checkpass) {
  	SetUserPassword($user, $pass);
  }
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-620

  • Architecture and Design When prompting for a password change, force the user to provide the original password in addition to the new password.
  • Architecture and Design Do not use "forgotten password" functionality. But if you must, ensure that you are only providing information to the actual user, e.g. by using an email address or challenge question that the legitimate user already provided in the past; do not allow the current user to change this identity information until the correct password has been provided.
Señales de detección

How to detect CWE-620

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-620 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-620?

This vulnerability occurs when an application allows a user to set a new password without first verifying their identity through the old password or a secure secondary authentication method.

¿Qué gravedad tiene CWE-620?

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-620?

MITRE no ha especificado plataformas afectadas para esta CWE — puede aplicar a la mayoría de los stacks de aplicaciones.

¿Cómo puedo prevenir CWE-620?

When prompting for a password change, force the user to provide the original password in addition to the new password. Do not use "forgotten password" functionality. But if you must, ensure that you are only providing information to the actual user, e.g. by using an email address or challenge question that the legitimate user already provided in the past; do not allow the current user to change this identity information until the correct password has been provided.

¿Cómo detecta y corrige Plexicus CWE-620?

El motor SAST de Plexicus detecta la firma de flujo de datos para CWE-620 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-620?

MITRE publica la definición canónica en https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/620.html. También puedes consultar la documentación de OWASP y NIST para guías relacionadas.

Debilidades relacionadas

Weaknesses related to CWE-620

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CWE-1391 Hermano

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CWE-262 Hermano

Not Using Password Aging

This vulnerability occurs when a system lacks password expiration policies, allowing users to keep the same password indefinitely.

CWE-263 Hermano

Password Aging with Long Expiration

The system enforces password changes, but the time allowed between changes is excessively long, weakening security.

CWE-289 Hermano

Authentication Bypass by Alternate Name

This vulnerability occurs when a system checks access based on a resource or user name, but fails to account for all the different names…

CWE-290 Hermano

Authentication Bypass by Spoofing

This weakness occurs when an application's authentication system can be tricked into accepting forged or manipulated credentials, allowing…

CWE-294 Hermano

Authentication Bypass by Capture-replay

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CWE-301 Hermano

Reflection Attack in an Authentication Protocol

A reflection attack is a flaw in mutual authentication protocols that allows an attacker to impersonate a legitimate user without knowing…

CWE-302 Hermano

Authentication Bypass by Assumed-Immutable Data

This vulnerability occurs when an authentication system incorrectly treats certain data as unchangeable, when in fact an attacker can…

Recursos

Further reading

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