CWE-257: Storing Passwords in a Recoverable Format
Description
The storage of passwords in a recoverable format makes them subject to password reuse attacks by malicious users. In fact, it should be noted that recoverable encrypted passwords provide no significant benefit over plaintext passwords since they are subject not only to reuse by malicious attackers but also by malicious insiders. If a system administrator can recover a password directly, or use a brute force search on the available information, the administrator can use the password on other accounts.
- Abstraction
- BaseA weakness specific enough to point to detection and prevention methods.
- Likelihood of exploit
- High
- Status
- Incomplete
Common consequences
- ConfidentialityAccess Control
Gain Privileges or Assume Identity
User's passwords may be revealed.
- Access Control
Gain Privileges or Assume Identity
Revealed passwords may be reused elsewhere to impersonate the users in question.
Potential mitigations
- Architecture and Design
Use strong, non-reversible encryption to protect stored passwords.