CWE-499 Variante Brouillon High likelihood

Serializable Class Containing Sensitive Data

This vulnerability occurs when a class containing sensitive information, such as credentials or personal data, is left serializable by default. Because the class does not explicitly prevent…

Définition

What is CWE-499?

This vulnerability occurs when a class containing sensitive information, such as credentials or personal data, is left serializable by default. Because the class does not explicitly prevent serialization, its internal data can be accessed and extracted by other parts of the application or external processes.
When a class implements Serializable without safeguards, it effectively becomes an open book. The sensitive fields within it cannot be truly hidden; any other class with serialization access can reconstruct the object and read its private data, bypassing intended access controls. This exposes critical information that should remain protected. To prevent this, developers should explicitly deny serialization for sensitive classes by marking them as 'transient' or overriding serialization methods. While SAST tools can detect this pattern, Plexicus uses AI to not only identify the flaw but also generate the specific code fix—such as adding a custom `readObject` method—saving significant manual remediation time across your codebase.
Impact réel

Real-world CVEs caused by CWE-499

Aucune référence CVE publique n'est liée à ce CWE dans le catalogue MITRE pour le moment.

Comment les attaquants l'exploitent

Parcours de l'attaquant étape par étape

  1. 1

    Identifier un chemin de code qui traite des entrées non fiables sans validation.

  2. 2

    Élaborer une charge utile qui exploite le comportement non sécurisé — injection, traversal, débordement ou abus de logique.

  3. 3

    Délivrer la charge utile via une requête normale et observer la réaction de l'application.

  4. 4

    Itérer jusqu'à ce que la réponse divulgue des données, exécute le code de l'attaquant ou élève les privilèges.

Exemple de code vulnérable

Vulnerable Java

This code creates a new record for a medical patient:

Vulnérable Java 
class PatientRecord {
  	private String name;
  	private String socialSecurityNum;
  	public Patient(String name,String ssn) {
  		this.SetName(name);
  		this.SetSocialSecurityNumber(ssn);
  	}
  }
Exemple de code sécurisé

Secure pseudo

Sécurisé 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.
Liste de contrôle de prévention

How to prevent CWE-499

  • Implementation In Java, explicitly define final writeObject() to prevent serialization. This is the recommended solution. Define the writeObject() function to throw an exception explicitly denying serialization.
  • Implementation Make sure to prevent serialization of your objects.
Signaux de détection

How to detect CWE-499

Automated Static Analysis High

Automated static analysis, commonly referred to as Static Application Security Testing (SAST), can find some instances of this weakness by analyzing source code (or binary/compiled code) without having to execute it. Typically, this is done by building a model of data flow and control flow, then searching for potentially-vulnerable patterns that connect "sources" (origins of input) with "sinks" (destinations where the data interacts with external components, a lower layer such as the OS, etc.)

Correction automatique Plexicus

Plexicus détecte automatiquement CWE-499 et ouvre une PR de correction en moins de 60 secondes.

Codex Remedium analyse chaque commit, identifie cette faiblesse précise et livre une pull request prête à être relue avec le correctif. Pas de tickets. Pas de transferts.

Obtenir une démo Essayer Plexicus gratuitement
Questions fréquentes

Frequently asked questions

Qu'est-ce que CWE-499 ?

This vulnerability occurs when a class containing sensitive information, such as credentials or personal data, is left serializable by default. Because the class does not explicitly prevent serialization, its internal data can be accessed and extracted by other parts of the application or external processes.

Quelle est la gravité de CWE-499 ?

MITRE évalue la probabilité d'exploitation comme Élevée — cette faiblesse est activement exploitée et doit être priorisée pour la remédiation.

Quels langages ou plateformes sont affectés par CWE-499 ?

MITRE lists the following affected platforms: Java.

Comment puis-je prévenir CWE-499 ?

In Java, explicitly define final writeObject() to prevent serialization. This is the recommended solution. Define the writeObject() function to throw an exception explicitly denying serialization. Make sure to prevent serialization of your objects.

Comment Plexicus détecte et corrige CWE-499 ?

Le moteur SAST de Plexicus reconnaît la signature de flux de données de CWE-499 à chaque commit. Lorsqu'une correspondance est trouvée, notre agent Codex Remedium ouvre une PR de correction avec le code corrigé, les tests et un résumé d'une ligne pour le relecteur.

Où puis-je en savoir plus sur CWE-499 ?

MITRE publie la définition canonique à https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/499.html. Vous pouvez également consulter la documentation OWASP et NIST pour des conseils adjacents.

Faiblesses associées

Weaknesses related to CWE-499

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CWE-200 Frère

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Ressources

Further reading

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