CWE-309: Use of Password System for Primary Authentication

Description

The use of password systems as the primary means of authentication may be subject to several flaws or shortcomings, each reducing the effectiveness of the mechanism.

Abstraction: BaseA weakness specific enough to point to detection and prevention methods.
Likelihood of exploit: High
Status: Draft

Common consequences

Access Control
Bypass Protection Mechanism; Gain Privileges or Assume Identity
A password authentication mechanism error will almost always result in attackers being authorized as valid users.

Potential mitigations

Architecture and Design
In order to protect password systems from compromise, the following should be noted: Passwords should be stored safely to prevent insider attack and to ensure that -- if a system is compromised -- the passwords are not retrievable. Due to password reuse, this information may be useful in the compromise of other systems these users work with. In order to protect these passwords, they should be stored encrypted, in a non-reversible state, such that the original text password cannot be extracted from the stored value. Password aging should be strictly enforced to ensure that passwords do not...
Architecture and Design
Use a zero-knowledge password protocol, such as SRP.
Architecture and Design
Ensure that passwords are stored safely and are not reversible.
Architecture and Design
Implement password aging functionality that requires passwords be changed after a certain point.
Architecture and Design
Use a mechanism for determining the strength of a password and notify the user of weak password use.
Architecture and Design
Inform the user of why password protections are in place, how they work to protect data integrity, and why it is important to heed their warnings.

Related weaknesses

Parent weaknesses

Peers

CWE-308Use of Single-factor Authentication

CAPEC attack patterns that exploit it

Potential mitigations

Architecture and Design

In order to protect password systems from compromise, the following should be noted: Passwords should be stored safely to prevent insider attack and to ensure that -- if a system is compromised -- the passwords are not retrievable. Due to password reuse, this information may be useful in the compromise of other systems these users work with. In order to protect these passwords, they should be stored encrypted, in a non-reversible state, such that the original text password cannot be extracted from the stored value. Password aging should be strictly enforced to ensure that passwords do not...

Architecture and Design

Use a zero-knowledge password protocol, such as SRP.

Architecture and Design

Ensure that passwords are stored safely and are not reversible.

Architecture and Design

Implement password aging functionality that requires passwords be changed after a certain point.

Architecture and Design

Use a mechanism for determining the strength of a password and notify the user of weak password use.

Architecture and Design

Inform the user of why password protections are in place, how they work to protect data integrity, and why it is important to heed their warnings.