CWE-228: Improper Handling of Syntactically Invalid Structure

What is Improper Handling of Syntactically Invalid Structure?

• Overview: Improper Handling of Syntactically Invalid Structure (CWE-228) occurs when a software product fails to correctly handle input that does not conform to the expected syntax or structure as defined by a specification, leading to potential mishandling and vulnerabilities.

• Exploitation Methods:

• Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting input that deviates from the expected syntax, causing the application to behave unpredictably or crash.
• Common attack patterns include sending malformed data that bypasses validation checks, leading to buffer overflows, injection attacks, or denial of service.

• Security Impact:

• Direct consequences of successful exploitation include application crashes, unauthorized data access, or execution of arbitrary code.
• Potential cascading effects can lead to broader system compromises, data corruption, or network infiltration.
• Business impact may include loss of customer trust, legal liabilities, financial loss, and damage to brand reputation.

• Prevention Guidelines:

• Specific code-level fixes include implementing robust input validation routines that strictly enforce syntax rules and reject malformed input.
• Security best practices involve using whitelisting for acceptable input patterns, regular expression validation, and employing secure coding standards.
• Recommended tools and frameworks include static analysis tools to detect potential input handling issues and application firewalls that can filter malicious input patterns at runtime.

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Technical Details

Likelihood of Exploit: Not specified

Affected Languages: Not specified

Affected Technologies: Not specified