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.)
CWE-274 Base Brouillon
Improper Handling of Insufficient Privileges
This vulnerability occurs when an application fails to properly manage situations where it lacks the necessary permissions to execute an action. This flawed handling can lead to crashes, data…
Définition
What is CWE-274?
This vulnerability occurs when an application fails to properly manage situations where it lacks the necessary permissions to execute an action. This flawed handling can lead to crashes, data corruption, or unintended security bypasses.
Insufficient privilege handling flaws typically arise when developers assume an operation will always succeed, neglecting to implement robust error-checking for permission failures. Instead of gracefully degrading or informing the user, the application might throw a raw exception, log sensitive data, or enter an unstable state. This creates a reliability issue that attackers can potentially exploit to cause denial-of-service or gather internal system information.
To prevent this, always validate permissions before performing sensitive operations and implement consistent, secure error handling that doesn't leak details. Managing these authorization checks at scale across a complex application is difficult; an ASPM like Plexicus can help you track and remediate these logic flaws across your entire stack by correlating runtime behavior with code-level patterns.
Impact réel
Real-world CVEs caused by CWE-274
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System limits are not properly enforced after privileges are dropped.
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Firewall crashes when it can't read a critical memory block that was protected by a malicious process.
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Does not give admin sufficient privileges to overcome otherwise legitimate user actions.
Comment les attaquants l'exploitent
Parcours de l'attaquant étape par étape
- 1
Identifier un chemin de code qui traite des entrées non fiables sans validation.
- 2
Élaborer une charge utile qui exploite le comportement non sécurisé — injection, traversal, débordement ou abus de logique.
- 3
Délivrer la charge utile via une requête normale et observer la réaction de l'application.
- 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 pseudo
MITRE n'a pas publié d'exemple de code pour ce CWE. Le motif ci-dessous est illustratif — voir Ressources pour les références canoniques.
// Example pattern — see MITRE for the canonical references.
function handleRequest(input) {
// Untrusted input flows directly into the sensitive sink.
return executeUnsafe(input);
} Exemple de code sécurisé
Secure 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-274
- Architecture Use safe-by-default frameworks and APIs that prevent the unsafe pattern from being expressible.
- Implementation Validate input at trust boundaries; use allowlists, not denylists.
- Implementation Apply the principle of least privilege to credentials, file paths, and runtime permissions.
- Testing Cover this weakness in CI: SAST rules + targeted unit tests for the data flow.
- Operation Monitor logs for the runtime signals listed in the next section.
Signaux de détection
How to detect CWE-274
CWE-274
Don't catalog this weakness. Prove it's reachable.
Plexicus turns CWE catalogs into evidence: every CWE-pattern is matched against your real code graph, reach is proven on a sandbox clone, and verified findings ship as reviewed PRs.
Questions fréquentes Qu'est-ce que CWE-274 ?
Quelle est la gravité de CWE-274 ?
Quels langages ou plateformes sont affectés par CWE-274 ?
Comment puis-je prévenir CWE-274 ?
Comment Plexicus détecte et corrige CWE-274 ?
Où puis-je en savoir plus sur CWE-274 ?
Frequently asked questions
Qu'est-ce que CWE-274 ?
This vulnerability occurs when an application fails to properly manage situations where it lacks the necessary permissions to execute an action. This flawed handling can lead to crashes, data corruption, or unintended security bypasses.
Quelle est la gravité de CWE-274 ?
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-274 ?
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-274 ?
Use safe-by-default frameworks, validate untrusted input at trust boundaries, and apply the principle of least privilege. Cover the data-flow signature in CI with SAST.
Comment Plexicus détecte et corrige CWE-274 ?
Le moteur SAST de Plexicus reconnaît la signature de flux de données de CWE-274 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-274 ?
MITRE publie la définition canonique à https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/274.html. Vous pouvez également consulter la documentation OWASP et NIST pour des conseils adjacents.
Faiblesses associées
Weaknesses related to CWE-274
CWE-755 Parent
Improper Handling of Exceptional Conditions
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CWE-209 Frère
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CWE-390 Frère
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CWE-395 Frère
Use of NullPointerException Catch to Detect NULL Pointer Dereference
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CWE-396 Frère
Declaration of Catch for Generic Exception
This weakness occurs when code catches a generic exception type like 'Exception' or 'Throwable', which can hide specific errors and create…
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