CWE-547: Use of Hard-coded, Security-relevant Constants

What is Use of Hard-coded, Security-relevant Constants?

• Overview: The vulnerability CWE-547 involves using hard-coded, security-relevant constants in the code instead of symbolic names. This practice can lead to errors during code maintenance or when security policies change, as these constants may not be updated consistently throughout the codebase.

• Exploitation Methods:

• Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by reverse-engineering the code to discover these constants, especially if the code is leaked or disclosed.
• If hard-coded values are related to encryption keys or authentication tokens, attackers can use them to bypass security controls or access sensitive data.
• Common attack patterns include code analysis to extract hard-coded values and using them to compromise the system.

• Security Impact:

• Direct consequences of successful exploitation include unauthorized access to systems, data breaches, and the ability to bypass security mechanisms.
• Potential cascading effects include further system compromise, data integrity issues, and erosion of trust in system security.
• Business impact can be significant, including financial losses, legal consequences, and reputational damage.

• Prevention Guidelines:

• Specific code-level fixes include using configuration files, environment variables, or secure storage mechanisms to store and retrieve security-relevant constants.
• Security best practices involve avoiding hard-coding sensitive values, using symbolic names, and ensuring secure code review processes are in place.
• Recommended tools and frameworks include static code analysis tools to detect hard-coded values and secure configuration management systems to manage security-relevant constants.

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Technical Details

Likelihood of Exploit: Not specified

Affected Languages: Not specified

Affected Technologies: Not specified