CWE-538 Base Brouillon

Insertion of Sensitive Information into Externally-Accessible File or Directory

This vulnerability occurs when an application unintentionally stores confidential data—like passwords, API keys, or personal user details—in a location that is publicly accessible or readable by…

Définition

What is CWE-538?

This vulnerability occurs when an application unintentionally stores confidential data—like passwords, API keys, or personal user details—in a location that is publicly accessible or readable by unauthorized users. Even if the file itself is intended to be available, the sensitive information within it should not be.
This flaw typically happens due to misconfigured file permissions, insecure default settings, or development practices that accidentally write secrets into log files, debug dumps, configuration files, or temporary directories. For example, an application might log full HTTP requests containing session tokens, or a deployment script could leave a backup file with database credentials in a web-accessible folder. Attackers can easily discover and exploit these exposed files using automated scanners or by guessing common file names. To prevent this, developers should implement strict access controls, ensuring sensitive files are stored outside web roots with proper permissions. Application code must avoid logging secrets, and automated processes should scrub sensitive data from any output. Regular security scans of publicly accessible directories are essential to detect accidental information leaks before they can be exploited.
Impact réel

Real-world CVEs caused by CWE-538

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

In the following code snippet, a user's full name and credit card number are written to a log file.

Vulnérable Java 
logger.info("Username: " + usernme + ", CCN: " + ccn);
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-538

  • Architecture and Design / Operation / System Configuration Do not expose file and directory information to the user.
Signaux de détection

How to detect CWE-538

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-538 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-538 ?

This vulnerability occurs when an application unintentionally stores confidential data—like passwords, API keys, or personal user details—in a location that is publicly accessible or readable by unauthorized users. Even if the file itself is intended to be available, the sensitive information within it should not be.

Quelle est la gravité de CWE-538 ?

MITRE n'a pas publié de note de probabilité d'exploitation pour cette faiblesse. Traitez-la comme un impact moyen jusqu'à ce que votre modèle de menace prouve le contraire.

Quels langages ou plateformes sont affectés par CWE-538 ?

MITRE n'a pas spécifié les plateformes affectées pour ce CWE — il peut s'appliquer à la plupart des stacks applicatives.

Comment puis-je prévenir CWE-538 ?

Do not expose file and directory information to the user.

Comment Plexicus détecte et corrige CWE-538 ?

Le moteur SAST de Plexicus reconnaît la signature de flux de données de CWE-538 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-538 ?

MITRE publie la définition canonique à https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/538.html. Vous pouvez également consulter la documentation OWASP et NIST pour des conseils adjacents.

Faiblesses associées

Weaknesses related to CWE-538

CWE-200 Parent

Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor

This weakness occurs when an application unintentionally reveals sensitive data to someone who shouldn't have access to it.

CWE-1258 Frère

Exposure of Sensitive System Information Due to Uncleared Debug Information

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CWE-1273 Frère

Device Unlock Credential Sharing

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CWE-1295 Frère

Debug Messages Revealing Unnecessary Information

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CWE-1431 Frère

Driving Intermediate Cryptographic State/Results to Hardware Module Outputs

This vulnerability occurs when a hardware cryptographic module leaks sensitive internal data through its output channels. Instead of only…

CWE-201 Frère

Insertion of Sensitive Information Into Sent Data

This vulnerability occurs when an application sends data to an external party, but accidentally includes sensitive information—like…

CWE-203 Frère

Observable Discrepancy

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CWE-209 Frère

Generation of Error Message Containing Sensitive Information

This vulnerability occurs when an application reveals sensitive details about its internal systems, user data, or environment within error…

CWE-213 Frère

Exposure of Sensitive Information Due to Incompatible Policies

This vulnerability occurs when a system's data handling aligns with the developer's security rules but accidentally reveals information…

Ressources

Further reading

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