CWE-306: Missing Authentication for Critical Function
low-riskThe product does not perform any authentication for functionality that requires a provable user identity or consumes a significant amount of resources.
Common Consequences
Detection Methods
This weakness can be detected using tools and techniques that require manual (human) analysis, such as penetration testing, threat modeling, and interactive tools that allow the tester to record and modify an active session. Specifically, manual static analysis is useful for evaluating the correctness of custom authentication mechanisms.
Automated static analysis is useful for detecting commonly-used idioms for authentication. A tool may be able to analyze related configuration files, such as .htaccess in Apache web servers, or detect the usage of commonly-used authentication libraries. Generally, automated static analysis tools have difficulty detecting custom authentication schemes. In addition, the software's design may include some functionality that is accessible to any user and does not require an established identity; an automated technique that detects the absence of authentication may report false positives.
According to SOAR [REF-1479], the following detection techniques may be useful: Cost effective for partial coverage: Binary / Bytecode disassembler - then use manual analysis for vulnerabilities & anomalies
According to SOAR [REF-1479], the following detection techniques may be useful: Cost effective for partial coverage: Web Application Scanner Web Services Scanner Database Scanners
According to SOAR [REF-1479], the following detection techniques may be useful: Cost effective for partial coverage: Host Application Interface Scanner Fuzz Tester Framework-based Fuzzer
According to SOAR [REF-1479], the following detection techniques may be useful: Cost effective for partial coverage: Focused Manual Spotcheck - Focused manual analysis of source Manual Source Code Review (not inspections)
According to SOAR [REF-1479], the following detection techniques may be useful: Cost effective for partial coverage: Source code Weakness Analyzer Context-configured Source Code Weakness Analyzer
According to SOAR [REF-1479], the following detection techniques may be useful: Highly cost effective: Inspection (IEEE 1028 standard) (can apply to requirements, design, source code, etc.) Formal Methods / Correct-By-Construction Cost effective for partial coverage: Attack Modeling
Real-World Examples (10)
| CVE | CVSS | EPSS | KEV |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVE-2022-1388 | 9.8 | 94.5% | Y |
| CVE-2022-1388 | 9.8 | 94.5% | Y |
| CVE-2017-10271 | 7.5 | 94.4% | Y |
| CVE-2023-46747 | 9.8 | 94.4% | Y |
| CVE-2022-24990 | 7.5 | 94.4% | Y |
| CVE-2022-24990 | 7.5 | 94.4% | Y |
| CVE-2022-21587 | 9.8 | 94.4% | Y |
| CVE-2022-21587 | 9.8 | 94.4% | Y |
| CVE-2020-6287 | 10.0 | 94.4% | Y |
| CVE-2020-6287 | 10.0 | 94.4% | Y |